to be close to

USAGE SUMMARY

"to be close to" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a physical proximity or emotional connection between people, places, or things. Example: "I love living in this neighborhood because it's close to my favorite restaurants and parks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hungary appears to be close to Sweden.

The Economist

I like to be close to people.

The New York Times

"I'd like to be close to balanced.

The New York Times - Sports

I love to be close to audiences.

The Guardian

"They'd like to be close to family".

The New York Times

He does now appear to be close to senility.

The Economist

I want to be close to my hometown.

The New York Times

That amount is expected to be close to $15 million.

The New York Times - Sports

Now they seem to be close to despair.

The Economist

Last week, Farinas was said to be close to death.

The New Yorker

The fearsome Clinton machine appeared to be close to breakdown.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing relationships, be specific about whether you mean physical proximity, emotional connection, or both. For example, "I like to be close to my family" suggests an emotional bond, while "I like to be close to the city center" implies physical convenience.

Common error

Avoid using "to be close to" without clarifying the context. Ensure it's clear whether you're referring to physical distance, emotional connection, or approximation. Using alternatives can help avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be close to" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier. It describes the state of being near, whether physically or emotionally. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be close to" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to denote physical proximity, emotional connection, or approximation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts. Its frequency in news and media highlights its widespread applicability. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to specify the type of closeness you intend to convey to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be near

Expresses physical proximity, similar to "to be close to".

to be in proximity to

A more formal way of expressing physical nearness.

to be intimate with

Indicates a strong emotional connection, differing from simple physical proximity.

to be approximate to

Used for numerical or abstract nearness rather than physical or emotional.

to be attached to

Suggests an emotional bond or connection.

to be fond of

Indicates affection, shifting the meaning from mere closeness.

to verge on

Implies approaching a state or condition, not physical closeness.

to border on

Similar to 'verge on', suggesting a state is nearly reached.

to keep company with

Indicates association or spending time together.

to resemble closely

Focuses on similarity in appearance or nature.

FAQs

What does "to be close to" mean?

The phrase "to be close to" can refer to physical proximity, emotional intimacy, or numerical approximation, depending on the context. For example, "to be close to home" indicates a short distance, while "to be close to someone" suggests a strong emotional bond.

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

You can use "to be close to" in various contexts. For example, "I want "to be close to my family"" (emotional), "The store is "to be close to the station"" (physical), or "The estimate is "to be close to $1000"" (numerical).

What are some alternatives to "to be close to" when referring to physical proximity?

When referring to physical proximity, you can use phrases like "to be near", "to be in proximity to", or "to be adjacent to".

What can I say instead of "to be close to" when referring to emotional connection?

For emotional connection, consider using phrases like "to be intimate with", "to be fond of", or "to be attached to".