closed

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Not open, so that people or things cannot go in or out.

   Grammar: Used after be or before a noun: the door is closed; a closed door.

   Patterns

   • be closed
   • keep something closed

   The door was closed, so I knocked.

   Please keep the windows closed during the storm.

   The bridge is closed for repairs.

2. 2adjectivenot comparable

   Not open for business or service at a given time.

   Grammar: Often used for shops and offices: the bank is closed on Sundays.

   Patterns

   • closed on Sundays
   • closed for something

   The museum is closed on Mondays.

   We arrived at the shop only to find it closed.

   The restaurant is closed for renovation.

3. 3adjectivecomparable

   Limited to certain people, or unwilling to accept new ideas.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a closed meeting; a closed mind.

   Patterns

   • closed to someone
   • closed to something

   The meeting was closed to the public.

   He has a closed mind and will not listen to other views.

   The competition is closed to employees.

4. 4verbtransitive or intransitive

   The past tense and past participle of close, meaning to shut something or to end.

   Grammar: Past form of close: she closed the door.

   Patterns

   • closed something
   • closed at a time

   She closed the window against the cold.

   The shop closed at six o'clock.

   He closed the meeting with a short speech.

Common combinations

closed door

There was a closed door at the end of the hall.

closed for business

The store is closed for business today.

closed to the public

The park is closed to the public after dark.

closed mind

A closed mind rejects new ideas.

permanently closed

The cafe is permanently closed.

closed circuit

The shop uses a closed circuit camera.

Synonyms and how they differ

shut

Shut is a little more informal and is also used for mouths and eyes, while closed is the standard neutral word.

sealed

Sealed means closed tightly so nothing gets in or out, which is stronger than closed.

locked

Locked means secured with a lock, so a door can be closed but not locked.

Opposites

Word family

close verb

to shut or end

closure noun

the act of shutting down or ending

closing noun

the end or shutting of something

disclose verb

to make known, from a related root meaning open up

Commonly confused: closed or close?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “closed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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