closed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "closed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has been shut down or cut off, or to describe something that is complete or no longer available. For example, "The store is now closed for the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Case closed.

The New York Times

"We closed the park immediately whilst preliminary investigations took place and to give our staff time to come to terms with the accident and its aftermath.

The Guardian

Once all polling stations have closed this restriction will be lifted.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite the president's deliberate attempt to talk down the markets and the media's dramatic warnings of economic Armageddon posed by a mere 17% of the government remaining temporarily idle, the S&P 500 closed at a record high the day after the shutdown ended.

The Guardian - Opinion

And four of six intelligence "fusion centres", where the CIA and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence share information, have been closed, according to the Washington Post.

The Guardian

But seven unanswered goals from the Swans closed the margin to just three points midway through the final term, ensuring for a frantic finish.

The Guardian - Sport

In the following year the town's population of about 4,000 dropped by nearly half, and as businesses and supermarkets closed, Qantas cut its services, and houses were left empty, the exodus began to take a toll on the mental health of those who stayed behind.

The Guardian

The brewery closed in 1988 and was largely demolished.

The Guardian - Travel

Narodnaya Volya, which closed yesterday, was considered the most important voice of the opposition in Belarus.

The Guardian

Even now, five years after the US closed down Bucca, the Pentagon defends the camp as an example of lawful policy for a turbulent time.

The Guardian

Laurent, the only waiter on duty, said: "We closed the club several times but people wanted it to come back".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "closed" to describe a business or institution, specify the reason for closure if it adds clarity or context, such as "The store is closed for renovations" or "The office is closed due to the holiday".

Common error

Avoid using "closed" when the present tense "close" is required. For example, instead of saying "They closed every day at 6 PM", say "They close every day at 6 PM".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "closed" is as the past participle of the verb "close", often used adjectivally to describe something that is shut or completed. As Ludwig AI reports, the word "closed" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closed" functions primarily as the past participle of "close", often used to describe a state of being shut or completed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in diverse contexts. As shown in the examples, it is very common in news and media and suitable for a neutral register. While versatile, it's important to ensure correct tense usage and consider more precise synonyms like ""sealed"" or ""concluded"" for specific meanings. Remember to clarify the reason for closure for added context in professional communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut

Focuses on the physical act of closing something.

sealed

Implies a secure and often airtight closure.

concluded

Emphasizes the termination or completion of something.

terminated

Highlights the formal ending or cessation of an activity or process.

completed

Focuses on the act of finishing something.

ended

A more general term for bringing something to a stop.

restricted

Implies limited access or availability.

inaccessible

Highlights the inability to reach or enter.

out of service

Indicates temporary unavailability, often due to maintenance or repairs.

not operating

Describes a state of inactivity or non-functionality.

FAQs

How is "closed" used in a sentence?

The word "closed" can be used as the past tense and past participle of the verb "close", or as an adjective. For example: "The shop is "shut"" (adjective), or "They "shut down" the factory last year" (verb).

What is a synonym for "closed"?

Some synonyms for "closed" include "shut", "sealed", "concluded", or "terminated", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the case is closed"?

Yes, "the case is closed" is a common idiom meaning that a matter is "concluded" and no further action or discussion is needed.

What does it mean when a business is "closed"?

When a business is "closed", it means that it is "not operating" or open for business at that time. It could be temporarily closed (e.g., for a holiday) or permanently closed.