come close
idiom
1
: to almost do something
We didn't win, but we came close.
—often + toThe band came very close to breaking up.
We came close to winning the championship this season.
2
: to be similar to something or as good as expected
She said they taste just like real hot dogs, but they don't even come close (to the real thing).
Examples of come close in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The two first-round picks netted by the Mavericks will not come close to sniffing lottery territory.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
The timing comes as some investors are questioning the valuation of these hot AI startups that have raised billions and yet haven’t come close to turning a profit.
—John Kell, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
But the Bucks have not come close to returning to the NBA Finals since winning the 2021 title, which is why the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo’s future is so uncertain ahead of Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
In the past, Democrats have pushed expansive voting proposals, including no-excuse mail-in voting and universal voter registration, and have come close to passing them, except for the 60-vote obstacle presented by the filibuster.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2026
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Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
The timing comes as some investors are questioning the valuation of these hot AI startups that have raised billions and yet haven’t come close to turning a profit.
—John Kell, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
But the Bucks have not come close to returning to the NBA Finals since winning the 2021 title, which is why the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo’s future is so uncertain ahead of Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
In the past, Democrats have pushed expansive voting proposals, including no-excuse mail-in voting and universal voter registration, and have come close to passing them, except for the 60-vote obstacle presented by the filibuster.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for come close
Cite this Entry
“Come close.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20close. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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