Meaning & use
closed in
Last updated
“closed in” is a form of “close in”.
Meanings
verbintransitive
to move nearer to someone or something, especially in a way that feels threatening or inescapable.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'on' or 'around': The fog closed in on us.
Patterns
- close in on someone/something
- close in around someone/something
The enemy soldiers closed in on the village from three sides.
As the fog closed in, we could barely see the road ahead.
The police closed in on the suspect and arrested him at the airport.
verbtransitive or intransitive
to surround someone or something and make them feel trapped or unable to escape.
Grammar: Often used in the passive or with 'around': The walls seemed to close in around her.
Patterns
- close in around someone
- be closed in by something
The dense trees closed in around the narrow path.
She felt the room closing in on her and had to step outside.
The city was closed in by mountains on all sides.
adjectiveafter a verb
feeling uncomfortable because you are in a small space or have too many people around you.
Grammar: Used after 'feel' or 'be': I felt closed in.
Patterns
- feel closed in
- be closed in
After months in the small apartment, he felt closed in and restless.
The office has no windows, so I often feel closed in.
She gets closed in when too many people crowd around her.
Word forms
| third person singular | closes in |
|---|---|
| past tense | closed in |
| past participle | closed in |
| -ing form | closing in |
Common combinations
- close in on someone
- The reporters closed in on the celebrity as she left the hotel.
- the fog closed in
- The fog closed in quickly, making driving dangerous.
- feel closed in
- I feel closed in when I work in a tiny cubicle.
- the walls close in
- He felt the walls close in as the deadline approached.
- close in around someone
- The crowd closed in around the street performer.
- darkness closed in
- Darkness closed in before we reached the campsite.
Synonyms and how they differ
- surround
- Means to be all around something; 'close in' adds a sense of movement and often threat or pressure.
- approach
- Means to come nearer; 'close in' suggests coming nearer in a way that feels enclosing or dangerous.
- encircle
- Means to form a circle around; 'close in' is more about the process of getting closer, not the final shape.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: closed in or closed?
closed in vs closed
'Closed' means shut or not open; 'closed in' is about being surrounded or feeling trapped.
Practice
The fog ______, and we could hardly see the road.
Choose one answer.
'Closed in' means the fog moved nearer and surrounded us. 'Closed down' means stopped operating; 'closed off' means blocked an entrance; 'closed up' means shut completely or stopped talking.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “closed in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.