to close
- verb
- /kloʊz/
- The project will help Russia close the gap between its military and those of the West.
- close the gap
- close the distance
It was a shortcut that could close gaps quickly.
- It was a shortcut that could close gaps quickly.
Examples
-
As the sun set, they could see the hikers closing in on the summit of the mountain.
-
The team worked hard to close the distance between them and their competitors during the final laps.
-
General, we're closing in on Zandor's house as we speak.
-
It was a shortcut that could close gaps quickly.
-
Let's close that gap.
-
The detective was closing in on the suspect after following several leads.
Synonyms
To move closer in space to a person or thing
Surround or enclose a place by bringing things nearer from all sides
Move closer to someone or something
Make progress toward finishing or achieving something
Move nearer to someone or something, often to surround and catch them
To move closer in space or time
To move closer in place or time
Move nearer to someone or something
Antonyms
Idioms
- Specialized
Sailing with the boat pointed almost into the wind to go as directly toward it as possible
To not tell people your plans or feelings to get an advantage
To do something useful only after it is already too late
Phrasal Verbs
- Informal
To leave very little time before something happens and risk being late
Compounds
Fighting that happens at very short distance between people, often hand-to-hand
- Specialized
Putting the cut edges of tissue together so they touch and heal
- South African
A company that a small group of people own and run and whose shares are not sold to the public
- Specialized
Gunfire aimed near friendly troops to protect them from immediate enemy threats
- UK
A speech sound made with the tongue close to the roof of the mouth, like the sound in see
- Specialized
Soldiers march shoulder to shoulder in a set formation for parades
- Formal
A short polite phrase that comes before the signature in a formal letter, like 'Sincerely' or 'Best regards'
How Near
Surface Forms
Etymology
Close (verb, to move near or to protect) comes from the idea of bringing things together from the root claudere 'to shut' or 'join'. So to close your arms around someone is to pull them 'near' and protect them.