closeness
/ˈkləʊsnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkləʊsnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈklō-snəs/ (ame, mw)
closeness — noun
1. the state of being only a short distance apart in physical space or separated by
the state of being only a short distance apart in physical space or separated by a brief period in time, so that people, places, or events are easily reachable from one another.
The closeness of the two villages meant that the children could walk to school together every morning.
closeness + of: spatial nearness between places
The closeness of the deadlines meant Noa had to finish both reports in a single week.
closeness + of: temporal nearness between events
The apartment's closeness to the metro station was the main reason Yara chose to rent it.
Hikers valued the closeness of the cabins, which let them reach shelter before the storm hit.
- distance
the direct opposite in both spatial and temporal senses
- remoteness
emphasises inaccessibility rather than mere distance
文法句型
closeness + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Unlike 'proximity', which is neutral and formal, 'closeness' often carries a nuance of convenience or benefit arising from the short distance. Also common in temporal contexts ('the closeness of the two holidays').
常見錯誤
2. the quality of a relationship in which two or more people know each other deeply
the quality of a relationship in which two or more people know each other deeply, care about each other's feelings, and share honest communication — for example, between close friends, family members, or long-time teammates.
The closeness between the two sisters grew even stronger after they moved in together.
closeness + between: mutual emotional bond
Rashida valued the closeness she had with her grandmother, who had always listened without judging.
closeness + with: one-directional relational bond
After years of working side by side, the nurses developed a closeness that felt like family.
The group's closeness was obvious at the reunion — everyone laughed and cried together freely.
Some people find it hard to handle the closeness of a romantic relationship and prefer more personal space.
- intimacy
stronger connotation of romantic or very deep personal connection
- bond
can be countable; emphasises the unifying force between people
- affection
focuses on the feeling of fondness rather than the quality of the relationship itself
- familiarity
emphasises knowing someone well, but may lack the emotional warmth of 'closeness'
- distance
emotional distance or formality between people
- estrangement
stronger — implies a breakdown or loss of closeness that once existed
文法句型
closeness + between + noun phrase
closeness + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Can be modified by 'emotional' for added clarity. When used with 'between', the closeness is mutual; with 'with', it may describe one person's perspective in the relationship. Contrast with sense 1: here 'closeness' describes an emotional distance of zero, not a physical one.
常見錯誤
3. the uncomfortable quality of a room, building, or outdoor environment where the
the uncomfortable quality of a room, building, or outdoor environment where the air is warm, heavy, and does not move freely, making it hard to breathe easily.
The closeness of the attic made the children feel dizzy after only ten minutes of playing.
closeness + of: describing stuffy indoor spaces
Aiko could not stand the closeness of the crowded train carriage during the summer rush hour.
The closeness of the weather that afternoon told everyone a thunderstorm was about to break.
Opening both windows slowly relieved the closeness of the small meeting room.
- stuffiness
more concrete and everyday; specifically about lack of fresh air
- mugginess
focuses on humidity rather than poor ventilation
- oppressiveness
stronger, literary; describes the heavy, uncomfortable feeling of the air
- freshness
cool, clean-moving air; the opposite feeling
- ventilation
functional opposite — the movement of air that prevents closeness
文法句型
closeness + of + air/atmosphere/weather
用法筆記
This sense is often used with the definite article ('the closeness') followed by 'of' and a noun describing the space or environment. Unlike senses 1 and 2, which are broadly common across registers, sense 3 is less frequent and more common in descriptive or literary writing about weather or indoor conditions.