# close out

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/close-out
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to finish or complete

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to bring something to an end or finish a task completely.

For teachers: to terminate or conclude a process, project, or period of time.

- The team worked late on Friday to close out the project before the weekend.
- The department head requested a final report to close out the fiscal year, ensuring all expenditures were accounted for before the audit.

Usage: Often used with projects, years, or specific tasks.

### 2. to settle an account

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to pay what you owe and shut down a bank account or a business deal.

For teachers: to settle a debt or liquidate a position, resulting in the formal closure of an account.

- I need to go to the bank to close out my savings account.
- After the merger was finalised, the legal team moved to close out all redundant accounts and transfer the remaining assets.

Usage: Commonly takes a direct object like 'account', 'loan', or 'position'.

### 3. to exclude someone

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to block someone from joining or being part of something.

For teachers: to exclude a person or group by blocking all opportunities for entry or participation.

- The new rules effectively closed out smaller companies from the competition.
- By raising the entry requirements so significantly, the board managed to close out independent contractors from the bidding process entirely.

### 4. to finish a sale

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to successfully finish a business deal or sale.

For teachers: to successfully conclude a negotiation or sales transaction.

- The salesman was happy to close out the deal after weeks of talking.
- The executive flew to Singapore specifically to close out the contract, as the client preferred a face-to-face meeting for the final signatures.

## Examples

- We need to close out the month with strong sales.
- The team worked late on Friday to close out the remaining tasks before the holiday break.
- The investment firm decided to close out its position in the tech sector after the quarterly earnings report failed to meet expectations.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'close' (general) and 'finish up'; 'close out' implies a formal ending or a final settlement of details.

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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.