close in

To move nearer to someone you are trying to catch.

• The police are closing in.
• Hunters closed in on the injured animal.
• Can the thieves escape before the officers close in on them?

How to use it: close in on someone/something (The police were closing in on the suspect.)

Similar words: approach, gain on

Opposites: retreat

Common phrases: close in on someone, close in slowly

To move nearer from around someone or something, leaving less open space.

• The fog was closing in.
• Trees closed in around the narrow path.
• The walls seemed to close in on him in the tiny room.

How to use it: close in around someone/something (The crowd closed in around the performers.); close in on someone/something (The walls seemed to close in on her.)

Similar words: surround, encroach

Opposites: recede

Common phrases: close in around someone, close in on something

To surround something with walls or another barrier, shutting it inside.

• They closed the porch in.
• New walls closed in the small courtyard.
• We could close in this space to make another room.

How to use it: close something in (They closed the porch in with glass panels.)

Similar words: enclose, box in

Common phrases: close something in, close in something