close in (on)

verb

Definition of close in (on)next
as in to approach

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for close in (on)
  1. approach
  2. focus
  3. near
  4. converge
Verb
  • With the rise of modern conservatism in the ’70s and ’80s, Main said influential figures on the right began to approach politics as war.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • In 2006, an associate of Leto’s approached a 17-year-old backstage at a Thirty Seconds to Mars concert and took her phone number for the musician, then 34.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026
Definition of approach
Verb
  • However, the website indicates that Abarca would focus on funding fixes and upgrades to existing roads and bridges before branching out into creating new transit routes.
    — Ilana Arougheti July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • In most instances, the handbook largely accepts the notion that rogue drones will appear and focuses on how to cope with them afterwards by negating their effects.
    — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of focus
Verb
  • McKenzie was at Chrysler when the auto industry neared collapse during the Great Recession.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But as the trade deadline nears, his bat remains the loudest.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of near
Verb
  • Late in extra time, Tielemans and opponent Lamine Camara converged on the ball.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Today, all of these layers are entangled in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where the battle over territory and history converge.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of converge
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.

Browse Nearby Words

close-in
close in (on)
close-knit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Close in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All