Standard Lemma guide

closer

adj · adv · noun · 11 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.

  • UK: /ˈkləʊ.sə/
  • General-American: /ˈkloʊ.sɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊsə(ɹ)
  • UK: /ˈkləʊ.zə/
  • General-American: /ˈkloʊ.zɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊzə(ɹ)
  • rhymes with (General American) -oʊzə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: K L OW1 S ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: K L OW1 Z ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

comparative form of close: more close

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: comparative, form-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Within a shorter distance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • Come closer, my dear.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Someone or something that closes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • In our organization, the VP of Sales usually acts as the closer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Someone or something that concludes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The DJ chose a fantastic track as his closer at the end of the night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Synonym of close (“the point at the end of a sales pitch when the consumer is asked to buy”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: sales

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: close

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The last stone in a horizontal course, if smaller than the others; a piece of brick finishing a course.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A relief pitcher who specializes in getting the last three outs of the game.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, baseball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • They brought their closer in for the ninth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A horse that performs best toward the end of a race.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, horse-racing, horseracing, horses, lifestyle, pets, racing, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

adverb

Meaning 9

(comparative of `near' or `close') within a shorter distance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • come closer, my dear!
  • they drew nearer
  • getting nearer to the true explanation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nearer, nigher

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

(baseball) a relief pitcher who can protect a lead in the last inning or two of the game

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: finisher

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reliever, relief pitcher, fireman

Narrower terms: slammer

11

noun

Meaning 11

a person who closes something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • whoever is the closer has to turn out the lights and lock up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

History

Etymology

From Middle English closere, equivalent to close (verb) + -er.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Spanish: citerior — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 接近 (jiējìn) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Finnish: sulkija — baseball: relief pitcher
  • French: stoppeur — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Japanese: 抑え投手 (osae tōshu) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Japanese: クローザー (kurōzā) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Japanese: ストッパー (sutoppā) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Japanese: 守護神 (shugoshin) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Korean: 마무리투수 (mamuritusu) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Korean: 클로저 (keullojeo) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Korean: 스토퍼 (seutopeo) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Korean: 수호신 (suhosin) — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Polish: bliżej — baseball: relief pitcher
  • Russian: ближе (bliže) — baseball: relief pitcher
Real reading context

closer in complete knowledge articles

Closer (play) Arts & music · Developing · 13 uses Stacy Clark People & society · Advanced · 5 uses Closer (Mandy Capristo song) Arts & music · Developing · 4 uses