closing
/ˈkləʊzɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkləʊzɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkləʊ.zɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈklō-ziŋ/ (ame, mw)
closing — adjective
- closingpositive
- more closingcomparative
- most closingsuperlative
1. used to describe the final part of an event, speech, or activity
used to describe the final part of an event, speech, or activity
The CEO delivered her closing remarks at the annual shareholders' meeting.
only before noun: closing remarks
In the closing minutes of the match, Ravi scored the winning goal.
Aiko's closing argument convinced the jury to reach a verdict.
The closing scene of the film left the audience in silence.
Tomás missed the closing ceremony because his flight left at dawn.
- final
more common and neutral; 'closing' specifically refers to the act of ending while 'final' simply means last in sequence
- concluding
slightly more formal; often chosen in academic or ceremonial contexts
- last
simplest and most general; less specific about a process of ending
文法句型
closing + noun
常見錯誤
closing — noun
- closingsingular
- closingsplural
1. the time when a business or public venue stops serving visitors, either at the e
the time when a business or public venue stops serving visitors, either at the end of the day or for good
The museum announced its closing at 5 p.m. every Sunday throughout the winter.
After the storm warning, the city ordered the closing of all public parks and beaches.
the closing of + [public place]
The restaurant's sudden closing surprised the regular customers who ate there every week.
Shop closing times in this small town are much earlier than in the capital.
Diego checked the library's closing hours before planning his study session.
- opening
the time when a place begins to receive visitors or customers
文法句型
the closing of + noun
possesive + closing
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed phrase 'closing time' to refer to the hour when pubs, bars, or shops stop serving customers. Can describe both daily closures and permanent shutdowns — context tells you which.
常見錯誤
2. the act of moving a door, lid, window, or one's eyes from an open to a shut posi
the act of moving a door, lid, window, or one's eyes from an open to a shut position
The soft closing of the bedroom door told Noa that the baby was finally asleep.
the closing of + [physical object]
The closing of the garage door is now controlled by a remote with a sensor.
Rashida blinked, and the slow closing of her eyes showed how exhausted she felt.
The window's automatic closing mechanism was broken after the winter storm.
Bao heard the closing of the gate latch when the wind blew through the yard.
- opening
the action of moving something to an open position
文法句型
the closing of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compound nouns or technical descriptions: 'door-closing system,' 'eye-closing reflex.' The opposite action is 'opening.'
3. the permanent end of a company, factory, hospital, or other organization's opera
the permanent end of a company, factory, hospital, or other organization's operations
The factory closing left three hundred workers without jobs before the holidays.
The hospital's closing forced patients to travel to another town for treatment.
After fifty years in business, the family store's closing saddened the whole neighborhood.
The government announced the closing of the coal mine after years of declining output.
Wen wrote an article about the closing of local libraries across the region.
- closure
the more formal and standard term for a permanent end of operations; 'closure' is preferred in official announcements
- shutdown
often suggests a sudden or enforced end, or a temporary halt that may become permanent
- liquidation
specifically refers to the process of selling assets to pay debts when a company ends
文法句型
the closing of + [organization]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (VENUE SHUT): this sense always refers to a permanent end of an organization's existence, not a daily routine. 'The restaurant's closing at 10 PM' (sense 1) vs. 'the restaurant's closing after 40 years' (sense 3).
常見錯誤
4. the final part or moment of an event, speech, period, or process — for example,
the final part or moment of an event, speech, period, or process — for example, the closing of a ceremony with a final song, or the closing of a debate with a concluding statement
The closing of the conference featured a speech by a Nobel prize winner.
As the closing of the school year approached, the students prepared for their final exams.
the closing of + [time period]
The orchestra played a famous piece at the closing of the summer festival.
The closing of Dr. Okafor's lecture received a warm ovation from the audience.
The closing of the old year brought a village celebration for the new one.
- end
the simplest, most general word; 'end' is neutral while 'closing' suggests a process of winding down
- conclusion
more formal; often used for written works, arguments, or formal events
- finish
emphasizes the final moment rather than the process leading to it
- finale
reserved for dramatic or musical events; suggests a grand or memorable ending
文法句型
the closing of + [abstract noun]
用法筆記
Used with a wide range of event nouns: 'the closing of the meeting,' 'the closing of the season,' 'the closing of the debate.' The adjective form 'closing' (adj sense 1) is more common and often preferred in everyday speech: 'closing remarks' rather than 'the closing of the remarks.'
常見錯誤
5. the final stage of a business negotiation when all parties agree to the terms an
the final stage of a business negotiation when all parties agree to the terms and the deal is formally completed
The closing of the merger took place after both boards approved the terms.
Lawyers worked through the weekend to prepare documents for the deal's closing.
deal closing — business collocation
The closing of the partnership agreement was delayed by unresolved tax issues.
Yusuf celebrated the closing of his first international contract with his team.
- completion
more general; can apply to any finished task, not just business deals
- settlement
often used when money changes hands to resolve a debt or obligation
- finalization
slightly more formal; stresses the last administrative steps
文法句型
the closing of + [business deal/agreement]
用法筆記
Typically used in business journalism and contract negotiation. Unlike sense 6 (real estate), this sense covers any type of commercial deal — mergers, partnerships, or sales of assets.
6. the final step in a property sale when the buyer becomes the legal owner and all
the final step in a property sale when the buyer becomes the legal owner and all paperwork is signed
The closing of the house sale is scheduled for next Friday morning.
Beatriz received the keys to her new apartment at the closing last Tuesday.
at the closing — fixed phrase in real estate
The buyers and sellers sat together at the lawyer's office for the closing.
Delays at the closing meant the Kims could not move in before the new term.
Closing costs included the lawyer's fee and the land transfer tax on the property.
- completion
the standard term in British English for the same legal process
- settlement
used in some regions and legal contexts interchangeably with closing
文法句型
the closing of + [property]
用法筆記
In British English, the equivalent term is 'completion.' 'Closing costs' is a fixed term for fees paid at the closing, such as legal fees, registration taxes, and inspection charges.
常見錯誤
7. making a distance, difference, or gap smaller — for instance, reducing a scoring
making a distance, difference, or gap smaller — for instance, reducing a scoring gap in a game or narrowing a wealth gap in society
The closing of the gap between rich and poor students is a national priority.
the closing of + [gap] in social contexts
The runner's finish led to the closing of the gap with the leader.
The policy focused on the closing of the wage gap between men and women.
Olu studied the closing of the age gap in marriage patterns across different cultures.
文法句型
the closing of + [gap/distance/difference]
用法筆記
Often found in formal writing about social issues (income gap, achievement gap, gender gap) or competitive contexts (sports, racing). The verb form 'close the gap' is more common in everyday speech.