close the proceedings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close the proceedings" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate the conclusion of a meeting, hearing, or other official activities. Example: "After hearing all the evidence, the judge decided to close the proceedings for the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"I can appreciate that," the judge responded perfunctorily, then moved to close the proceedings.

The New York Times

The decision to close the proceedings angered Ms. Politkovskaya's supporters, who called it politically motivated.

The New York Times

His lawyer, Mr. Roth, with the government's consent, asked Magistrate Peck to close the proceedings, a transcript shows.

The New York Times

But in his opinion, Judge Sullivan determined that concerns about personal privacy, or a potential chilling effect on respondents, did not meet the threshold to close the proceedings.

The New York Times

In an unusual move, the Air Force on Sept. 15 tried to close the proceedings of the airman's Article 32 hearing, the equivalent of a grand-jury proceeding.

The New York Times

Judge Zubov, who had been widely condemned after he attempted to close the proceedings to the press, was hardly an authoritarian figure: one of the journalists dubbed him "Winnie the Pooh".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

These witnesses testified on Monday, but at their request the presiding judge closed the proceedings to the public.

The New York Times

After the trial ended in a judicial finding of not guilty, members of the press sought Supreme Court review of the order closing the proceedings.

The New Yorker

Then, two years and six days after the landmark antitrust suit was filed, Judge Jackson formally closed the proceedings, saying: "The matter is submitted.

The New York Times

And when the Scopes monkey trial concluded, the presiding judge closed the proceedings as he'd opened them each day -- with a prayer.

The New York Times

When she recalls for the audience the arduous process of translating "Karamazov," she confuses the four brothers with the "Three Sisters," a stumble that leads inevitably to the musical number "O We Gotta Get to Moscow!" Mrs. Garnett closes the proceedings by reciting a conjugation of the verb "to Karamazov".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close the proceedings" in formal settings, such as legal contexts or official meetings, to clearly indicate the conclusion of the activity.

Common error

Avoid using "close the proceedings" in casual conversations or informal writing. It's better suited for formal, structured events or documented processes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close the proceedings" functions as a verb phrase used to denote the action of formally ending a session, hearing, or meeting. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close the proceedings" is a grammatically sound verb phrase primarily used in formal contexts to indicate the termination of a session or meeting. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most frequently encountered in news and media sources. For more casual settings, alternative phrases like "end the meeting" or "adjourn the meeting" may be more appropriate. When writing, remember that "close the proceedings" should be reserved for scenarios where formality and precision are required, such as legal or official documentation. Using it in casual conversation might sound out of place.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declare the proceedings over

This option is a formal announcement that the proceedings have concluded.

terminate the hearing

This phrase specifically refers to ending a legal or investigative hearing.

conclude the session

This option emphasizes the formal ending of a specific session or part of a larger event.

wind up the proceedings

This option, more common in British English, implies bringing the proceedings to a final conclusion.

call the session to a close

This option adds a more ceremonial tone to ending a session.

adjourn the meeting

This alternative focuses on temporarily suspending a meeting, implying a possible resumption later.

bring the meeting to an end

This option emphasizes the action of causing the meeting to stop.

finalize the session

This alternative focuses on completing all necessary actions to bring the session to a definitive end.

end the debate

This alternative indicates the cessation of a formal discussion or argument.

suspend the session

This option suggests a temporary halt with the possibility of resuming later.

FAQs

How to use "close the proceedings" in a sentence?

You can use "close the proceedings" to indicate the end of a meeting or hearing, such as: "The judge decided to "close the proceedings" after all evidence was presented."

What can I say instead of "close the proceedings"?

Alternatives include "adjourn the meeting", "conclude the session", or "terminate the hearing", depending on the context.

Is "close the proceedings" formal or informal?

"Close the proceedings" is a formal phrase used in legal or official contexts. It is not suitable for informal conversation.

What is the difference between "close the proceedings" and "end the meeting"?

"Close the proceedings" is generally used in more formal, official contexts like legal hearings or government meetings, while "end the meeting" is a more general phrase suitable for any meeting.