close

Other forms: closed; closer; closing; closest; closes

To close is to shut something or to end something. You could close a door, close your mouth, or even close a deal.

This versatile word usually means "the end" or "near." When a store is closed, you can't go in: the door is closed and locked. When people are close, they are right next to each other — or they're emotionally close to one another. In baseball, the closer is a pitcher who tries to end the game. If your flight had "a close call," it almost crashed. You can close a program on a computer, and you close your eyes when you go to sleep after reading this.

Definitions of close

1. adjective

   at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
   “close to noon”

   “how close are we to town?”

   “a close formation of ships”

   synonyms:

   adjacent, next, side by side

   nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space

   ambient

   completely enveloping

   adpressed, appressed

   pressed close to or lying flat against something

   approximate, close together

   located close together

   at hand, close at hand, imminent, impendent, impending

   close in time; about to occur

   at hand, close at hand

   close in space; within reach

   close-hauled

   having the sails trimmed for sailing as close to the wind as possible

   close set, close-set

   set close together

   contiguous, immediate

   very close or connected in space or time

   circumferent, encompassing, surrounding

   closely encircling

   enveloping

   surrounding and closing in on or hemming in

   hand-to-hand

   being at close quarters

   juxtaposed

   placed side by side often for comparison

   nestled, snuggled

   drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

   proximate

   very close in space or time

   scalelike

   reduced to a small appressed thing that resembles a scale

   walk-to, walking

   close enough to be walked to

   antonyms:

   distant

   separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

   far

   located at a great distance in time or space or degree

   deep

   very distant in time or space

   extreme

   most distant in any direction

   far-flung

   remote

   long-distance

   covering a long distance

   nonadjacent

   not adjacent; not next

   out-of-town

   happening in or being of another town or city

   yon, yonder

   distant but within sight (`yon' is dialectal)
2. adjective

   not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
   “she was close to tears”

   “had a close call”

   synonyms: near, nigh

   adjacent

   near or close to but not necessarily touching

   nearby

   close at hand

   warm

   of a seeker; near to the object sought

   hot

   of a seeker; very near to the object sought
3. adjective

   close in relevance or relationship
   “a close family”

   “we are all...in close sympathy with...”

   “close kin”

   “a close resemblance”

   synonyms:

   approximate, near

   very close in resemblance

   boon

   very close and convivial

   buddy-buddy, chummy, thick

   (used informally) associated on close terms

   close-knit, closely knit

   held together as by social or cultural ties

   confidential

   denoting confidence or intimacy

   cozy

   suggesting connivance

   dear, good, near

   with or in a close or intimate relationship

   familiar, intimate

   having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship

   intimate

   marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

   antonyms:

   distant

   far apart in relevance or relationship or kinship

   faraway

   far removed mentally

   loosely knit

   having only distant social or legal ties

   removed

   separated in relationship by a given degree of descent

   ulterior

   beyond or outside an area of immediate interest; remote
4. adjective

   (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched
   “a close contest”

   “a close election”

   synonyms: tight

   equal

   having the same quantity, value, or measure as another
5. adjective

   marked by fidelity to an original
   “a close translation”

   synonyms: faithful

   accurate

   conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
6. adjective

   rigorously attentive; strict and thorough
   “close supervision”

   “paid close attention”

   “a close study”

   “kept a close watch on expenditures”

   synonyms:

   careful

   exercising caution or showing care or attention
7. adjective

   strictly confined or guarded
   “kept under close custody”

   synonyms:

   restrained

   under restraint
8. adjective

   crowded
   “close quarters”

   synonyms: confining

   confined

   not free to move about
9. adjective

   fitting closely but comfortably
   “a close fit”

   synonyms: close-fitting, snug

   tight

   closely constrained or constricted or constricting
10. adjective

    of textiles
    “a close weave”

    synonyms: tight

    fine

    of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles
11. adjective

    used of hair or haircuts
    “a close military haircut”

    synonyms:

    short

    (primarily spatial sense) having little length or lacking in length
12. adverb

    near in time or place or relationship
    “don't get too close to the fire”

    synonyms: near, nigh
13. adverb

    in an attentive manner
    “he remained close on his guard”

    synonyms: closely, tight
14. adjective

    lacking fresh air
    “the dreadfully close atmosphere”

    synonyms: airless, stuffy, unaired

    unventilated

    not ventilated
15. adjective

    confined to specific persons
    “a close secret”

    synonyms:

    private

    confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
16. adjective

    inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information
    “although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it”

    synonyms: closelipped, closemouthed, secretive, tightlipped

    incommunicative, uncommunicative

    not inclined to talk or give information or express opinions
17. adjective

    giving or spending with reluctance
    “very close (or near) with his money”

    synonyms: cheeseparing, near, penny-pinching, skinny

    stingy, ungenerous

    unwilling to spend