Meaning & use

came to a close

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌkeɪm tʊ ə ˈkləʊz/
US/ˌkeɪm tʊ ə ˈkloʊz/

“came to a close” is a form of “come to a close”.

Meaning

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    ended or finished, especially after a period of time

    Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the subject is usually an event, meeting, or period of time.

    Patterns

    • something came to a close
    • the meeting came to a close

    The concert came to a close with a beautiful fireworks display.

    After three days of talks, the summit came to a close without a clear agreement.

    As the year came to a close, she looked back on everything she had achieved.

Common combinations

the meeting came to a close
The meeting came to a close at noon.
the event came to a close
The festival came to a close on Sunday evening.
the year came to a close
As the year came to a close, the company announced record profits.
the ceremony came to a close
The ceremony came to a close with the national anthem.

Synonyms and how they differ

ended
More direct and neutral; 'came to a close' sounds slightly more formal and often suggests a gradual or ceremonial ending.
concluded
Formal and often used for official events or meetings; 'came to a close' is a little warmer and less technical.
finished
The most general word; 'came to a close' is more literary and usually describes events rather than tasks.

Opposites

Word family

come to a close phrase
The base form, meaning to end or finish.
bring something to a close phrase
To cause something to end; used when someone actively finishes an event.

Commonly confused: came to a close or close?

came to a close vs close

As a verb, 'close' means to shut something; as an adjective, it means near. 'Came to a close' is a fixed phrase meaning 'ended'.

Practice

The conference ______ with a speech by the CEO.

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