closed
closed
Pronunciation
/kloʊzd/.
closed /kloʊzd/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/oʊ/ - voiced diphthong (as in "go")
/z/ - voiced alveolar sibilant
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
I. Verb Forms of "To Close" (from which "closed" is derived):
Base Form: close (e.g., "Please close the door.")
Third Person Singular Present: closes (e.g., "He closes the shop at 5 PM.")
Present Participle/Gerund: closing (e.g., "The door is closing." / "Closing the deal was difficult.")
Past Simple: closed (e.g., "She closed her eyes.")
Past Participle: closed (e.g., "The shop is closed." / "Having closed the book, she stood up.")
II. "Closed" as an Adjective:
When "closed" functions as an adjective, it describes a noun. Adjectives in English generally don't have singular/plural forms themselves, but they modify nouns that do.
Singular Noun: a closed door, a closed mind
Plural Noun: closed doors, closed minds
III. Related Adjectival Forms (Degrees of Comparison):
While "closed" itself doesn't typically take comparative/superlative forms in a strict sense (you wouldn't say "more closed" or "most closed" to describe something being shut more), you might use adverbs to indicate degree:
Comparative Concept: more fully closed, less fully closed (rather than "closer" or "closest," which tend to refer to proximity for "close")
Superlative Concept: the most fully closed
IV. Compound Forms and Derived Words:
"Closed" also appears in many compound words and derived terms, often retaining its adjectival meaning:
Compound Adjectives: closed-minded, closed-door, closed-circuit, half-closed, semi-closed
Nouns (often from compound adjectives): closed shop, closed system, closed loop
Other Related Verbs: unclose (to open), disclose (to reveal), enclose (to surround)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Not open; shut or sealed, thereby preventing entry, exit, or view.
Synonyms: shut, sealed, fastened, secured, inaccessible
Antonyms: open, unlatched, unlocked, unsealed, accessible
Definition 2: (Of a business, institution, or facility) Not operating or available for public use, typically for a period of time.
Synonyms: out of business, out of service, shut down, inactive, defunct (if permanently closed)
Antonyms: open, operating, active, accessible, available
Definition 3: (Of a discussion, meeting, or process) Restricted to a select group of participants, not open to the general public or outsiders.
Synonyms: private, restricted, exclusive, confidential, non-public
Antonyms: open, public, unrestricted, transparent, accessible
Definition 4: (Of a system or loop) Self-contained and not interacting with or influenced by external elements; operating within a defined boundary without external input or output.
Synonyms: self-contained, isolated, sealed, integrated, autonomous
Antonyms: open, interconnected, permeable, interactive, exposed
Definition 5: (Of a person's mind or attitude) Unwilling to consider new ideas, opinions, or experiences; resistant to change or external influence.
Synonyms: narrow-minded, rigid, bigoted, insular, unreceptive
Antonyms: open-minded, receptive, flexible, tolerant, adaptable
Verb (Past Participle of "To Close")
Definition 1: Having been moved into a position that prevents passage or access; having been shut.
Example Usage: "The door had been closed before the wind picked up."
Synonyms: shut, sealed, secured, fastened, latched
Antonyms: opened, unlatched, unlocked, unsealed
Definition 2: Having brought something to an end or completion; finished or concluded.
Example Usage: "The deal was closed after weeks of negotiation."
Synonyms: concluded, finalized, completed, ended, terminated
Antonyms: started, begun, opened, initiated, commenced
Definition 3: Having discontinued operations or services.
Example Usage: "The restaurant has closed for good."
Synonyms: shut down, ceased operations, gone out of business, folded
Antonyms: opened, begun operations, started up
Examples of Use
Books:
"The old house stood silent and closed, its windows like dark, empty eyes staring out at the overgrown garden." (Fictional narrative, descriptive use as an adjective)
"Chapter 7 outlined the procedures for a closed meeting of the board of directors, ensuring privacy for sensitive discussions." (Non-fiction business book, as an adjective meaning private)
"She felt her mind, once so open to new possibilities, becoming increasingly closed after years of repeated disappointments." (Literary fiction, as an adjective describing a state of mind)
Newspapers:
"The main highway remains closed due to heavy flooding, impacting morning commutes across the region." ("Daily Nation," 2025, as an adjective meaning impassable)
"Sources indicate that the negotiations for the new trade agreement were held behind closed doors." ("The Standard," 2025, as part of a common idiom meaning privately)
"The company officially closed its factory in Thika yesterday, leading to significant job losses." ("Business Daily Africa," 2025, as a verb (past participle) meaning ceased operations)
Online Publications:
"Why are so many small businesses feeling the pressure to remain closed even as lockdown restrictions ease?" (Article on a business news website like Quartz Africa, as an adjective meaning not operating)
"The thread was marked 'RESOLVED' and closed by the moderator after the user's issue was addressed." (Online forum or support community, as a verb (past participle) meaning concluded/finished)
"Developers announced that the beta testing phase for the new game is now closed to new participants." (Gaming news website like IGN, as an adjective meaning no longer accepting)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The scene opens on a dimly lit room, with all the curtains closed, suggesting secrecy or confinement." (Film screenplay description, as a verb (past participle) modifying curtains)
Television Series: "This line is now closed! No more calls, please!" (Game show host on a live competition, indicating the end of a phone-in segment)
Music (Song Lyrics): "My heart was closed until your love broke through the walls." (Pop song lyrics, as an adjective meaning unwilling to feel/unresponsive)
Video Games: "ERROR: Access denied. Gate is closed." (In-game message in an adventure or role-playing game, as an adjective meaning inaccessible)
Podcast: "In today's episode, we discuss the implications of a closed internet, where information flow is tightly controlled." (Tech or current affairs podcast, as an adjective describing a system)
General Public Discourse:
"The coffee shop is closed today for renovations, but they'll be back open tomorrow." (Casual conversation between friends, as an adjective meaning not operating)
"Can you believe they finally closed the case after all these years? Justice served!" (Everyday discussion about a legal matter, as a verb (past participle) meaning concluded)
"I'm trying to have an open mind, but when it comes to certain topics, I find myself pretty closed." (Personal reflection in conversation, as an adjective describing a state of mind)
"Don't worry, the window is closed, so the rain won't come in." (Practical instruction, as a verb (past participle) meaning shut)
10 Famous Quotes Using Closed
"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." (Alexander Graham Bell)
"The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open." (Frank Zappa - using the antonym to imply the necessity of not being closed-minded)
"I have to be seen to be believed." (Queen Elizabeth II - indirectly implying that if she were "closed" off, she wouldn't be effective)
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." (John Donne - the antithesis of being "closed" off or isolated)
"Nothing is ever closed in this country, nothing is ever finished." (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude - referring to an ongoing, unfinished state)
"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half-shut afterwards." (Benjamin Franklin - implying a shift from an open, observational state to a more 'closed' or less critical one)
"I keep my eyes closed for a little while and when I open them up, I’m back in the world." (John Lennon - referencing the act of shutting one's eyes)
"My heart was closed by the fear of being hurt again, but then you came along." (Lesser-known romantic quote, common sentiment)
"The case is closed." (Often uttered in detective stories and legal dramas, signifying conclusion)
"A society that closes its doors to refugees closes its heart to humanity." (Original quote, reflecting the contemporary use of "closed" in humanitarian contexts)
Etymology
The word "closed" essentially means "shut" or "not open." Its journey through languages helps us understand its meaning.
It comes from the Old French verb "clore," which meant "to shut" or "to cut off from." This Old French word, in turn, got its roots from the Latin word "claudere." "Claudere" had a very similar meaning: "to shut," "to close," "to block up," or "to make inaccessible." You can still see this root in words like "include" (to shut in) or "exclude" (to shut out).
The earliest known use of "closed" in English, as an adjective meaning "made shut" or "not open," appears around the 13th century (specifically, the early 1200s). So, from its very first appearance in English, it held the core meaning of being shut or sealed, preventing access. It was often used to describe things like doors, gates, or other entries that were not open.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Closed
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "closed," or synonyms for similar effect:
Closed circuit: A system where signals or information are transmitted only within a specific, limited network.
Closed shop: An arrangement where all employees must belong to a particular union.
Closed book: Something or someone that is difficult to understand or get to know; a finished matter.
Closed-door meeting: A private meeting, not open to the public.
Closed season: A period when hunting or fishing of a particular species is prohibited.
Closed mind: A person unwilling to consider new ideas or opinions.
Closed ranks: To unite firmly with others to defend oneself or a group, often against criticism.
Closed case: A matter that has been concluded, especially a legal investigation.
Closed out: To finish or conclude something, often a business or sale.
The door is closed on that idea: An idea or option is no longer being considered.
Shut one's eyes to something: To deliberately ignore or refuse to acknowledge something (using a synonym, "shut").
Lock down a deal: To finalize or secure an agreement (using a synonym, "lock").
Tight-lipped: Saying little; secretive (implying one's lips are "closed").
Barred entry: Preventing someone from entering (using a synonym, "barred").
Under lock and key: Securely confined or stored (using synonyms, "lock" and "key" for security).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of closed from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
