close in on

verb

To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.

“The police closed in on the suspect.”

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Meanings

verbclose in on (third-person singular simple present closes in on, present participle closing in on, simple past and past participle closed in on)

present singular third person closes in on · participle present closing in on · participle past closed in on · past closed in on

  1. idiomaticTo enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.

    Sometimes it feels like the walls are closing in on me.

  2. idiomaticTo catch up with in a chase; to near the end of a pursuit.

    The police closed in on the suspect.

  3. idiomaticTo near a goal or completion.

    I think we are closing in on the end of this project.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
close in upon

Translations

French enserrer, se rapprocher
  • enserrerto enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse
  • se rapprocherto catch up with in a chase; to near the end of a pursuit
  • approcherto near a goal or completion
Polish otaczać, otoczyć
  • otaczaćto enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse
  • otoczyćto enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse
  • dopadaćto catch up with in a chase; to near the end of a pursuit
  • dopaśćto catch up with in a chase; to near the end of a pursuit
  • zbliżać się do końcato near a goal or completion
  • zbliżyć się do końcato near a goal or completion
Swedish knappa in på
  • knappa in påto catch up with in a chase; to near the end of a pursuit
Cite this entry
APA

close in on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/close%20in%20on

MLA

“close in on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/close%20in%20on. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “close in on,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/close%20in%20on.

Source: close in on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.