ENGLISH
REFERENCE

closes

v.
A1 Beginner US //ˈkɫoʊzɪz// clos·es

v. to shut something so that it is no longer open. You use this when talking about doors, windows, or businesses that stop serving customers for the day.

v. to move something so that it covers an opening; to bring two parts together to shut a gap. Third-person singular present form of 'close'.


SIMPLE

The shop closes at five o'clock every evening.

CONTEXTUAL

The heavy wooden door closes automatically to keep the heat inside the building during winter.

COMPLEX

As the final act concludes and the curtain closes, the audience typically remains silent for a moment before beginning their applause.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive when used with an object like 'the door', but can also be intransitive when describing a business ending its hours of operation.

Pitfall

The shop is close at nightThe shop is closed at nightLearners often use the adjective 'close' (near) or the base verb instead of the past participle 'closed' to describe a state.

© 2026 English Reference