close
Shut something so it's not open
To move something so that it is not open anymore.
to close [a door/window/lid]
- Please close the door when you leave.
- She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
- Don't forget to close the window before it rains.
- The shop owner closed the gate at 8 p.m.
- Close the door, please.
- I close my eyes when I sleep.
- He will close the box.
- Can you close the window?
End or stop an activity
To finish or stop something, like a meeting or a shop's work for the day.
to close [a meeting/store/account]
- The bank closes at 5 p.m.
- Let's close the meeting with a round of thanks.
- They closed their shop after 20 years in business.
- The store closes at 9 p.m.
- We will close the meeting now.
- The bank closes in ten minutes.
Near in distance, time, or relationship
Near in place or time, or having a strong relationship with someone.
- They live close to the school.
- We are very close friends.
- The deadline is getting close.
- My house is close to the park.
- She is my close friend.
- The bus stop is close.
Bring parts together until they touch/join
To move things together so there is no space between them.
to close [a gap/curtain/book]
- Please close the curtains before it gets dark.
- They worked hard to close the gap between rich and poor.
- He closed the book and left the room.
- Close the curtains now.
- He closed the book after reading.
- We closed the gap between us.
Conclude a deal or agreement
To finish making a business agreement or selling something.
to close [a deal/sale/contract]
- They closed the deal after weeks of negotiation.
- We hope to close several sales this quarter.
- The company closed a major contract yesterday.
- We closed the deal yesterday.
- He closed a big sale today.
- They will close the contract tomorrow.
- Base: close
- Comparative: closer
- Superlative: closest
- Base: close
- 3rd Person Singular: closes
- Present Participle: closing
- Past: closed
close down
1Stop operating a business or service
To stop running a business or service, often forever.
- The factory closed down last year due to low demand.
- They had to close down the restaurant after only six months.
close in on
1Move nearer to capture/attack target
To move closer to someone or something in order to catch them.
- The police were closing in on the suspect.
- The soldiers closed in on their target.
come close to
1Almost achieve or experience something
To nearly do or feel something.
- She came close to winning the race.
- I came close to falling asleep during the lecture.
close call
1Narrow escape from danger or trouble
A situation where something bad almost happened but did not.
- That was a close call—we almost hit that car!
- That was a close call — we almost hit that car!
- It was a close call, but we finished before the deadline.
- It was a close call, but we made it on time.
behind closed doors
1with no outsiders present
in a private place, with no people from outside watching or listening
- The negotiations took place behind closed doors.
- Important negotiations took place behind closed doors.
- The key decisions were made behind closed doors.
- They prefer to discuss family matters behind closed doors.
- They always argue behind closed doors.
- They like to keep their negotiations behind closed doors.
- A lot of bullying happens behind closed doors, where teachers cannot see it.
behind closed doors
2In private, secretly
In secret, where other people cannot see or know what happens.
- The deal was made behind closed doors.
- They discussed the matter behind closed doors.
behind closed doors
3In private, secretly
Happening in private, where people cannot see or know about it.
- The deal was made behind closed doors.
- They met behind closed doors to discuss the plan.