# close in upon

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/close-in-upon
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to move closer to someone or something from all sides, often to catch or attack them.

For teachers: to advance toward a target from multiple directions, effectively reducing the distance and limiting escape; often used in contexts of pursuit, entrapment, or metaphorical pressure.

## Examples

- The police began to close in upon the suspect's hiding place.
- As the sun set, the wolves started to close in upon the campfire where the hikers were resting.
- The feeling of failure seemed to close in upon him as the deadline approached and his resources dwindled to nothing.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The walls closed in at me." but "The walls closed in upon me." — the preposition 'upon' or 'on' is required to show the direction of the movement toward the object.

## Usage notes

- often used with a physical target or a person feeling overwhelmed by abstract pressures.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'close in on' which is more common in modern speech; 'upon' adds a more formal or literary tone to the action.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.