closely

/ˈkləʊsli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkləʊsli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈklō-slē/ (ame, mw)

closely — adverb

1. Used to describe a direct, strong connection between people, organisations, or t

1.副詞B2
釋義

Used to describe a direct, strong connection between people, organisations, or things — whenever two sides cooperate, are linked by family, or influence one another in significant ways

例句

The two research teams worked closely together on the vaccine project for two years.

collocation: work closely together

Aiko's family has been closely connected to the local temple through four generations.

collocation: closely connected to [organisation]

同義詞
  • intimately

    stronger emotional or personal tone; less common in professional contexts

  • directly

    focuses on the absence of intermediaries rather than the strength of the relationship

  • tightly

    emphasises that the connection leaves little room for separation; more informal

反義詞
  • loosely

    describes a weak or distant connection

文法句型

closely + verb (work, cooperate)

closely + past participle (related, connected, linked)

用法筆記

Frequently used with verbs of cooperation (work, collaborate) and adjectives or past participles that describe connections (related, connected, linked, tied, associated).

常見錯誤

❌The two teams worked close together on the project.
✅The two teams worked closely together on the project.
💡use 'closely' (adverb), not 'close' (adjective), to modify the verb 'worked'.

2. with your full attention on every small detail, especially when you are watching

2.副詞C1
釋義

with your full attention on every small detail, especially when you are watching, listening to, or checking someone or something

例句

The detective examined the photograph closely but found nothing unusual.

collocation: examine closely

Yara watched her toddler closely as he took his first steps across the room.

collocation: watch closely

同義詞
  • carefully

    broader meaning; 'closely' adds a sense of sustained, detailed focus

  • attentively

    more formal; emphasises listening or watching with concentration

  • minutely

    formal; suggests examining the smallest parts; less common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • casually

    without serious attention or effort

文法句型

closely + verb of perception (watch, examine, listen, study, follow)

用法筆記

Commonly paired with sensory or analytical verbs: watch, look, examine, study, listen, follow, read, observe. It signals a higher level of care than the base verb alone would convey.

常見錯誤

❌Please look close at the instructions.
✅Please look closely at the instructions.
💡'closely' is the adverb form required to modify the verb; 'close' as an adverb is only used in physical distance contexts ('stay close').

3. So similar that only tiny differences exist among people, groups, or items — to

3.副詞B2
釋義

So similar that only tiny differences exist among people, groups, or items — to the extent that they seem nearly identical in appearance, quality, or final result

例句

The new smartphone model closely resembles last year's version.

collocation: closely resemble

Both candidates' education policies closely match each other on charter schools.

同義詞
  • almost exactly

    used before verbs like match or resemble; more informal

  • nearly

    focuses on approximation rather than small remaining difference

  • faithfully

    implies intentional imitation or following a model

文法句型

closely + verb of comparison (resemble, match, follow)

closely + past participle (matched, related)

用法筆記

Often used with verbs of comparison (resemble, match, mirror, follow) and in competitive contexts (closely contested, closely fought, closely matched). Also appears with adjectives like comparable and analogous.

常見錯誤

❌The two fabrics are close similar.
✅The two fabrics are closely similar.
💡'closely' is the adverb needed to modify the adjective 'similar'; 'close' is an adjective, not an adverb here.

4. Done with active effort to keep information hidden or to limit knowledge to a ve

4.副詞B2
釋義

Done with active effort to keep information hidden or to limit knowledge to a very small group — for instance, when plans, documents, or identities are carefully shielded from outsiders

例句

The general kept the battle plans closely guarded inside a steel safe.

collocation: closely guarded

The film studio held the sequel details closely, revealing nothing to journalists.

同義詞
  • secretly

    broader; can mean simply without others knowing, not necessarily with active guarding

  • covertly

    formal; used for military or intelligence contexts

  • tightly

    more informal; used with 'held' or 'guarded' to stress zero access

反義詞
  • openly

    without secrecy or restriction

文法句型

closely + past participle (guarded, held, kept, protected)

用法筆記

Almost always used with past participles in the pattern 'closely + past participle' (guarded, held, kept, protected, watched). Less common with active verb forms. The sense implies deliberate effort to restrict access, not just natural privacy.

5. with very little physical space or time between two or more things — so that the

5.副詞C1
釋義

with very little physical space or time between two or more things — so that they are almost touching or happen almost at the same moment

例句

The two earthquakes occurred closely together, separated by just six hours.

collocation: closely together (time)

Rashida stayed closely behind the lead runner throughout the entire marathon.

collocation: closely behind [someone]

文法句型

closely + adverb of position (together, behind)

closely + verb of movement (follow, pack)

用法筆記

Often appears in fixed pairings: closely together, closely behind, closely after. Distinguish from sense 3 (SIMILAR): 'closely followed' in this sense means physical proximity, not imitation.