Phrase guide

close ranks

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To close the spacing between lines (ranks) of troops, as they are deployed across a battlefield, thereby decreasing the depth of the formation as it faces the enemy side.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To regroup forces, especially when this involves overlooking differences in order to face a challenge or adverse situation. Often implies making a show of unity, especially to the public.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To maintain silence and secrecy in the face of some external threat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: رَصّ الصُّفُوف (raṣṣ aṣ-ṣufūf) — to regroup forces
  • Dutch: de rangen sluiten — to regroup forces
  • Finnish: tiivistää rivejä — to regroup forces
  • French: serrer les rangs — to regroup forces
  • German: die Reihen schließen — to regroup forces
  • Hungarian: zárja a sorait — to regroup forces
  • Italian: serrare i ranghi — to regroup forces
  • Italian: serrare le fila — to regroup forces
  • Italian: fare quadrato — to regroup forces
  • Japanese: 一致結束 (itchikessoku) — to regroup forces
  • Norwegian Bokmål: slutte rekkene — to regroup forces
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gjøre felles front — to regroup forces
  • Polish: zwierać szeregi — to regroup forces
  • Polish: zewrzeć szeregi — to regroup forces
  • Portuguese: cerrar fileiras — to regroup forces
  • Russian: смыка́ть ряды́ (smykátʹ rjadý) — to regroup forces
  • Russian: сомкну́ть ряды́ (somknútʹ rjadý) — to regroup forces
  • Spanish: cerrar filas — to regroup forces
  • Spanish: hacer piña — to regroup forces