1
as in shuts
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening
be sure to close the gate when you leave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in closes (down)
to stop the operations of
the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ends
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point
we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in expires
to come to an end
the services closed with a short prayer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in comes
to come near or nearer
the two groups closed with each other from opposite sides of the field
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in courtyards
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls)
a garden in a close at the center of the complex
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in halts
the stopping of a process or activity
at the close of the evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in endings
the last part of a process or action
managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of closes
Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
The real caveat here is that the 0% APR window eventually closes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Grogu's eyes blink, mouth opens and closes, and arms move, including in a movement as if using the Force.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Zaslav will receive a massive golden parachute when that deal closes, though the precise value will depend on a number of factors.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
The shuttles will run from 30 minutes before the gates open until 30 minutes after the campus closes.
—David J. Neal
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Jean closes her eyes in disbelief.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Related Stories Of course, that number could climb, as there are usually a handful of surprises, last-minute launches and obscure entries (some of which self-submit) that appear just before the eligibility window closes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Tutka Bay Lodge in Homer, Alaska, closes over a long stretch from October 1 to April 15.
—Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
Here are seven moves worth making before the warm weather window closes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Our 2022 study found that when a rural hospital closes, hospitals nearby see a measurable spike in inpatient admissions and emergency room visits that can cause significant financial strain.
—Daniel R. George, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
All lottery entrants have an equal chance of selection, with results announced shortly after registration closes.
—Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
After voting closes, the week’s winning piece is auctioned off, as an NFT, via the online marketplace SuperRare.
—Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Davies has watched this happen in real time, seeing the price of the eventual winning song skyrocket the exact second a Spotify tracking window closes, and hours before official results are made public.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
Three of those higher closes were only fractional.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The bottom line As Medicare Advantage open enrollment closes, seniors have a final opportunity to adjust their coverage for 2026, but that opportunity comes with limits.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
While the works in Chihuly at Meijer Gardens will be temporary and removed after the exhibition closes, three important Chihuly pieces remain part of the park’s permanent collection.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
The real caveat here is that the 0% APR window eventually closes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Grogu's eyes blink, mouth opens and closes, and arms move, including in a movement as if using the Force.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Zaslav will receive a massive golden parachute when that deal closes, though the precise value will depend on a number of factors.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
The shuttles will run from 30 minutes before the gates open until 30 minutes after the campus closes.
—David J. Neal
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Jean closes her eyes in disbelief.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Related Stories Of course, that number could climb, as there are usually a handful of surprises, last-minute launches and obscure entries (some of which self-submit) that appear just before the eligibility window closes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Tutka Bay Lodge in Homer, Alaska, closes over a long stretch from October 1 to April 15.
—Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
Over this 18-day period, the SMH closed higher in 17 out of 18 closes.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
Here are seven moves worth making before the warm weather window closes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Our 2022 study found that when a rural hospital closes, hospitals nearby see a measurable spike in inpatient admissions and emergency room visits that can cause significant financial strain.
—Daniel R. George, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
All lottery entrants have an equal chance of selection, with results announced shortly after registration closes.
—Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
After voting closes, the week’s winning piece is auctioned off, as an NFT, via the online marketplace SuperRare.
—Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Davies has watched this happen in real time, seeing the price of the eventual winning song skyrocket the exact second a Spotify tracking window closes, and hours before official results are made public.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
Three of those higher closes were only fractional.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The bottom line As Medicare Advantage open enrollment closes, seniors have a final opportunity to adjust their coverage for 2026, but that opportunity comes with limits.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closes
Verb
-
Plugging the metal end of the hose into the inlet engages the vacuum’s motor, turning the machine on; when the hose is unplugged, the system shuts itself off.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Louisa completely shuts her down, which is one of several reasons Louisa would not be fun to hang out with.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Internet access will only be restored after the war ends, the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported earlier this week, quoting Elias Hazrati, the head of Iran’s Government Information Council.—
Alayna Treene,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
According to the department, 410 foreign climbers have been issued permits to attempt to reach the Everest summit during the spring climbing season, which ends at the end of May.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Over the past two weeks, Lucas and other city officials have referenced a desire to open the new stadium by Opening Day 2030, a timeline that Lucas has acknowledged as aggressive and would put the Royals in Crown Center before their lease expires at Kauffman Stadium in 2031.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The temporary ceasefire expires Sunday, April 26.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The position requires approval from the Senate and comes with an ambassador title.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That’s the pressure that comes with being a superstar (not to mention having a $12 million salary).—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The film conveniently concludes in 1988, five years before Chandler’s abuse allegations came to light.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Powell, meanwhile, is set to step down as Fed chair when his term concludes on May 15, capping an eight-year tenure as the leader of the central bank.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The single item that stops new projects is when the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) is required, with a set-aside of 20% of the units to be rented at below market prices.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And that’s where the problem stops being technical and starts being structural.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Additional storm development is also possible across the Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic as an upper-level system approaches from the west.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As a courtroom showdown between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively approaches next month, lawyers for the former co-stars continued to hash out key pretrial issues Tuesday before a federal judge.—
Rebecca Keegan,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal, is among those in line to replace Antonio Guterres, whose term finishes at the end of the year.—
Peter Martin,
Bloomberg,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Honor also had robots secure the second and third place finishes in the race.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closes. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
