Meaning & use
closely
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
With careful, steady attention to detail.
Grammar: Goes after verbs such as watch, listen, examine: she watched him closely.
Patterns
- watch something closely
- listen closely
- examine something closely
The nurse watched the patient closely through the night.
Listen closely, because I will only say this once.
Inspectors examined the bridge closely for cracks.
adverbnot comparable
In a way that shows a strong connection, link or likeness between things or people.
Grammar: Often modifies related, linked, connected or resemble: the two are closely related.
Patterns
- closely related to something
- closely linked to something
- closely resemble something
Smoking is closely linked to lung disease.
The twins closely resemble their father.
Her work is closely connected with the local community.
adverbnot comparable
At a short distance or with little space or time between things.
Grammar: Often used with followed or packed: the cars followed closely behind.
Patterns
- follow closely behind someone
- closely packed
- closely spaced
The runners followed closely behind the leader.
The houses stood closely together along the narrow street.
Thunder followed closely after the flash.
Word forms
| comparative | more closely |
|---|---|
| superlative | most closely |
Common combinations
- watch closely
- Watch closely and you will see how the trick works.
- closely related
- Wolves and dogs are closely related.
- closely guarded secret
- The recipe is a closely guarded secret.
- look closely at
- If you look closely at the photo, you can see a tiny boat.
- work closely with
- Doctors work closely with nurses on the ward.
- closely follow
- Fans closely follow every move the team makes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- carefully
- Carefully describes how cautiously or precisely you do something, whereas closely focuses on the level of attention or the nearness.
- attentively
- Attentively is more formal and used mainly for listening or watching, while closely has a wider range.
- intimately
- Intimately suggests a personal, deeply familiar connection, while closely can describe any strong link.
- nearby
- Nearby states only physical position, whereas closely can describe either distance or the strength of attention.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: closely or close?
closely vs close
Close can be an adverb meaning near in space, as in 'stand close', but closely is the form for attention and connection: watch closely, closely related.
Practice
The two languages are so ____ related that speakers can often understand each other.
Choose one answer.
An adverb is needed to modify the adjective related, and closely does this. Closer would need a comparison and closed is a different word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “closely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.