close

closeverb

To close something is to make it no longer open, whether it is a door, a shop, a meeting, or the space between two things.

1. shutmove something such as a door, a window, or a lid so that it covers an opening, or move in this way

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Please close the door when you leave. V + obj
   • The door closed quietly behind her.
   • Close your eyes and relax. V + obj
   • Can you close the window? It's cold in here. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun close the door, close the window, close your eyes, close a book

   verb + adverb close tightly, close quietly, close firmly

   Synonyms shut

   Antonyms open

2. for the daystop being open to the public for a time, or make a shop or office do this

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The shop closes at six. V + adv/prep
   • We close early on Fridays. V + adv/prep
   • They closed the museum for a week to clean it. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + adverb close early, close late

   verb + preposition close at six, close for lunch

   Antonyms open

3. for goodstop working as a business and not open again, or make a business do this

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The factory closed last year and many people lost their jobs.
   • They closed the restaurant after ten years. V + obj
   • Several small shops in our street have closed.

   Collocations

   verb + noun close a factory, close a school, close a business

   Synonyms close down

4. road or borderstop people or vehicles from using a road or a bridge, or from crossing into a country, for a time

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] usually passive [usually passive]

   • The road was closed because of the snow. usually passive
   • Police closed the bridge after the accident. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun close a road, close a bridge, close the border

   Antonyms open

5. endend something, or come to an end

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • She closed the meeting with a short speech. V + obj + prep + obj
   • The story closes with a wedding.
   • I closed my old bank account. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun close a meeting, close an account, close a discussion

   Synonyms end

   Antonyms open

6. on a computermake a program, a file, or a window on a screen stop showing or running

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] computing

   • Close all your programs before you turn off the computer. V + obj
   • Save the file and then close it. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun close a program, close a file, close a window, close a tab

   Antonyms open

7. agreementcomplete a business agreement or a sale successfully

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] business

   • We closed the deal after two weeks of talks. V + obj
   • She needs to close three more sales this month. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun close a deal, close a sale

8. make smallermake a distance or a difference between two people or things smaller, or become smaller

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • The team closed the gap to two points. V + obj
   • The car behind us was closing fast.
   • The other runners were closing on him. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun close the gap, close the distance

   verb + preposition close on someone

See also close (near; it is said with an s sound); close down (stop working as a business); close in (come nearer and surround someone)