close to

A short distance from someone or something.

• Sit close to me.
• Our house is close to the station.
• They stood close to the door while they waited.

How to use it: close to + person/place/thing (The hotel is close to the beach.)

Similar words: near, by

Opposites: far from

Common phrases: close to home, close to someone, close to the station

About a particular number or amount, often a little less.

• It took close to an hour.
• Close to fifty people came to the meeting.
• The house sold for close to a million dollars.

How to use it: close to + number/amount (The repairs cost close to a thousand dollars.)

Similar words: about, approximately, around

Common phrases: close to fifty, close to midnight, close to an hour

Almost reaching a particular state or completing an action.

• The work is close to finished.
• She was close to tears after the argument.
• We came close to winning the match.

How to use it: close to + -ing (We were close to giving up.); close to + state (The tank is close to empty.)

Similar words: almost, nearly

Common phrases: close to finished, close to tears, close to winning