it was closing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was closing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is in the process of shutting or coming to an end, such as a store, event, or opportunity. Example: "As we arrived at the restaurant, we realized it was closing for the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Diamondback announced last week that it was closing its doors.

The New York Times

Brendan Lynch left the company, and Sotheby's announced that it was closing its London antiquities department.

The New Yorker

Activision Blizzard said on Wednesday that it was closing its Guitar Hero unit.

The New York Times

Macy's announced last month that it was closing its department store in downtown Houston.

The New York Times

The Oregon co-op announced in October it was closing its doors.

The Washington Post

Navegar quietly informed federal authorities in February that it was closing its doors.

The New York Times

The Nikkei's report followed Nintendo's announcement that it was closing its European headquarters in Germany.

BBC

Earlier this week, Primehouse, a 5-year-old Manhattan steakhouse, announced it was closing its doors.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was closed.

The New York Times

Two years later, it was closed down.

The New York Times

It was closed, we discovered.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was closing" to describe a process that is actively underway, leading to a final state of closure. For example, "The store was closing, so the employees began to lock the doors."

Common error

Avoid using "it was closing" when you mean to say something is already closed. Instead of "It was closing yesterday", use "It closed yesterday" to indicate a completed event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was closing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, describing an action that was in progress at a specific time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was closing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, describing an action in progress. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is typically used to describe a situation where something was in the process of shutting down or coming to an end, as often seen in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound and readily understood, consider alternatives like "it was shutting down" or "it was coming to an end" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was shutting down

This alternative replaces "closing" with "shutting down", emphasizing the action of ceasing operations or activity.

it was coming to an end

This phrase highlights the finality of the situation.

it was winding down

This suggests a gradual reduction in activity before stopping completely.

it was drawing to a close

This phrase uses a more figurative expression to suggest something is nearing its end.

it was terminating

This is a more formal way of saying something was ending.

it was finishing up

This alternative emphasizes the final stages of completion.

it was nearing completion

This alternative focuses on the progress towards finishing something.

it was expiring

This phrase applies to things that have a set duration, like contracts or deadlines.

it was ceasing operations

This phrase specifies that business activities were stopping.

it was reducing

This indicates the act of becoming smaller, or lessening.

FAQs

How can I use "it was closing" in a sentence?

The phrase "it was closing" is used to describe something in the process of shutting down or coming to an end. For example, "As we arrived at the theater, "it was closing" for the night".

What are some alternatives to saying "it was closing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "it was shutting down", "it was coming to an end", or "it was nearing completion".

Is it correct to say "it was closing time"?

Yes, "it was closing time" is a common and correct way to indicate that a place is about to close. It's frequently used in contexts like bars, restaurants, or stores.

What's the difference between "it was closing" and "it closed"?

"It was closing" describes the process of something shutting down, whereas "it closed" indicates that the action of closing is already completed. For example, "It was closing when we arrived" versus "It closed an hour ago".