close down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the cessation of a business, activity, or program. For example, "The company decided to close down its factory in Ohio due to financial losses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some may have to close down.

The New York Times

I say close down the entire university.

The New York Times - Sports

Then nobody can close down your business.

The New York Times - Books

Movie premieres close down highly trafficked thoroughfares.

The New York Times

"Some banks will likely close down.

The New York Times

Some factories have had to close down.

The Economist

A lot of schools will close down.

The Economist

To close down further speculation?

The Guardian - Opinion

Don't close down the Internet.

The New York Times

Religious houses began to close down.

The New Yorker

"We have all gotten close down here.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a temporary cessation, consider using "temporarily suspend operations" instead of "close down".

Common error

Avoid using "close down" interchangeably with terms like "pause" or "suspend", which imply a temporary halt rather than a permanent end. If the intention is to resume later, "close down" is inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close down" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates the cessation of a business, activity, or program, as exemplified by the sentence, "The company decided to close down its factory in Ohio due to financial losses."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "close down" is a versatile term signifying the cessation of operations for businesses, activities, or systems. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for conveying information about closures across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register, fitting both formal and informal communications. Alternatives like "shut down" and "cease operations" offer subtle variations in meaning. When using "close down", it's important to ensure the context accurately reflects a complete or near-complete termination rather than a temporary pause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut down

Emphasizes a sudden or complete halt of operations.

cease operations

A more formal way to express the ending of business activities.

terminate business

Highlights the legal or official ending of a business.

wind up

Primarily British English, referring to the final stages of closing a business.

go out of business

Describes the state of a business that has closed.

liquidate assets

Refers to selling off assets to finalize business closure.

discontinue operations

A formal term indicating the end of production or service.

shutter

Suggests closing a business, often used in the context of stores or establishments.

bring to an end

Focuses on the action of completing the process.

bring the curtain down

A more figurative way to describe ending something, like a show or performance.

FAQs

How to use "close down" in a sentence?

"Close down" is a phrasal verb that means to stop operating. For example, "The factory will "close down" next month due to financial difficulties".

What can I say instead of "close down"?

You can use alternatives like "shut down", "cease operations", or "terminate business" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "close down" or "close up"?

Both ""close down"" and "close up" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Close down" typically refers to ceasing operations permanently, while "close up" can refer to closing a shop for the day.

What's the difference between "close down" and "shut down"?

"Close down" and "shut down" are often used interchangeably to mean ceasing operations, but "shut down" can also refer to turning off a machine or system.