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Glite Dictionary
to get closer to

to get closer to

105 1.9
Make progress toward finishing or achieving something
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : acercarse a
  • Jesse and Frank leaped from their mounts, trying to get close to the house.
  • need to get closer to
  • get closer to God

Other words lie to get closer to a deeper truth.

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Examples

  • This way, we might be able to surprise them and get closer to the target before encountering resistance.

    Flyboys (2006)

  • Meanwhile, Zen Yi was getting closer to Jungle Village.

    The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

  • Sorry, but I found a way to get closer to your goal.

    Jack Be Nimble (2022)

  • I think we're getting close, closer to the federal elections.

    Danny Jones

  • The countries of Central and Eastern Europe desperately need to get closer to the European Union.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Instead, they see the Fed actually getting close to achieving its goals.

    Meet Kevin

  • And if I can't continuously get closer to that one thing, the business will fail.

    Tom Bilyeu

  • After weeks of training, she felt like she was finally getting closer to her fitness goals.

  • With each step in the project, the team is getting closer to a successful outcome.

  • By learning new techniques, I am getting closer to mastering the art of painting.

Synonyms

to get to
vsto get closer to
∞ 2.4

Reach a goal, place, or state after effort

means making progress toward a goal rather than finishing it
to close
vsto get closer to
650 1.5

To move toward something to touch or hold it

emphasizes gradual progress toward an outcome rather than physical nearness
to approach
vsto get closer to
532 2.1

To move closer in space to a person or thing

applies to moving toward a result rather than completing it
to near
vsto get closer to
115 1.0

Move closer to someone or something

covers progress toward a goal rather than simple spatial closeness
to come close
vsto get closer to
72 2.9

To be almost as good as something in quality or amount

is about steady progress toward a result rather than near completion
to draw near
vsto get closer to
18 2.6

To move closer in place or time

is about gradual movement toward completion rather than finishing the event
to draw close
vsto get closer to
8 2.9

Move nearer to someone or something

describes measured advance toward a goal rather than arrival
to come near
vsto get closer to
2 3.0

To almost do or experience something without doing it

focuses on ongoing movement toward completion, not the near miss

Antonyms

to give up
∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

How Close

to reach
∞ 1.1
to get closer to
105 1.9
to move ahead
61 2.7
to approach
312 3.0

Surface Forms

get closer to infinitive
getting closer to present participle
gets closer to third person singular
got closer to past
got closer to past participle

Morphology

get + closer + to

The meaning 'to approach a goal or make progress' is a metaphorical extension of physical proximity: 'get' (arrive/obtain) + 'closer' (nearer) + 'to' composes into a sensible idea of moving nearer to a target. This mapping is common across languages and often inferable by learners who know the words, but because it relies on a metaphorical shift rather than a strictly literal combination it is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Get closer to shows a simple picture: the word get with closer and to suggests moving nearer to a goal, like walking step by step toward a finish line. So, saying you are getting closer to something means you are 'making progress' toward it.