came close to

USAGE SUMMARY

"came close to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe how close someone or something came to achieving a certain goal. For example: "The team came close to winning the championship, but ultimately fell short in the final match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It came close to capsizing".

Independent

But it came close to having nine.

The Economist

Some came close to the hole.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, the economy came close to collapse.

The New Yorker

He came close to beating it".

The New York Times - Magazine

No other country came close to that.

The Economist

He came close to editing The Independent.

Independent

None came close to matching his accomplishments.

The New York Times

None came close to winning.

The Washington Post

Nobody came close to dying.

The New York Times

"He came close to dying.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came close to" to effectively convey a sense of near success or failure, adding nuance to descriptions of events and outcomes.

Common error

While versatile, avoid overuse in formal contexts. Opt for more precise alternatives like "nearly achieved" or "almost reached" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came close to" functions as a verb phrase, typically followed by a verb in the gerund form (-ing) or a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

15%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "came close to" is a versatile phrase used to express that something nearly happened or a state was nearly reached. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While commonly used, being mindful of the writing context and register allows for a more impactful and appropriate use. While "came close to" is quite common across different types of text, it's more frequent in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly achieved

Focuses on the near accomplishment of something.

almost reached

Emphasizes reaching a point just shy of the target.

narrowly missed

Highlights the small margin by which something was missed.

fell just short of

Indicates a failure to achieve something by a small amount.

approached closely

Describes a situation where something got very near to a certain condition or state.

was on the verge of

Suggests being at the brink of a particular event or outcome.

teetered on the brink of

Highlights a precarious situation nearly resulting in a specific outcome.

hovered near

Implies staying in proximity without quite reaching.

grazed

Conveys a slight or indirect contact, suggesting nearness.

was within striking distance of

Expresses that someone/something was close enough to a target to be able to hit or reach it.

FAQs

How can I use "came close to" in a sentence?

You can use "came close to" to describe near misses or approximations. For example, "The company "came close to bankruptcy" but was saved by a last-minute deal."

What are some alternatives to "came close to"?

Alternatives include "nearly achieved", "almost reached", or "narrowly missed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "come close to"?

Yes, "come close to" is grammatically sound, but the tense should align with the context. "Came close to" refers to the past, while "come close to" describes a general possibility or a present action.

What's the difference between "came close to" and "almost"?

"Came close to" implies a process or attempt that nearly succeeded, while "almost" simply indicates that something nearly happened. For instance, "He "came close to winning"" suggests he was in contention, whereas "He almost won" is a simpler statement of near victory.