closelyadverb
uk/ˈkləʊs.li/us/ˈkloʊs.li/closely adverb (RELATIONSHIP)
B2 in a way that is directly connected or has a strong relationship:
English and German are closely related.
Both politicians have been closely associated with the movement for some time.
We are working closely with the police.
More examples
- The euro has closely shadowed the dollar.
- Because they worked so closely in the same department, John was tarred with the same brush as Tim.
- He has been closely associated with the museum for many years.
- She has been closely associated with racist organizations in the past.
- We have remained closely in touch over the years.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Friendly
- affable
- amiable
- amicable
- amity
- approachable
- closeness
- comrade
- family-friendly
- first name
- forthcoming
- fraternal
- fraternity
- Freemasonry
- matey
- neighbourly
- nice
- nicely
- outgoing
- thaw
- tête-à-tête
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closely adverb (CAREFULLY)
C1 carefully and paying attention to details:
Pollution levels are closely monitored.
He looked again more closely at the marks.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Paying attention and being careful
- attention
- attention span
- be good, and if you can't be good, be careful idiom
- be on (your) guard idiom
- cautious
- centre
- eye
- focus
- hang
- hang on/upon sth
- have a care idiom
- have/keep your ear to the ground idiom
- hedge your bets idiom
- middle
- pay
- the/a glare of sth idiom
- tread carefully/gently/lightly idiom
- walk
- walk on eggs/eggshells idiom
- wary
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closely adverb (SIMILAR)
without a big difference between two people, groups, or things:
The two teams are closely matched.
It was a closely fought election.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Similar and the same
- a level playing field idiom
- affinity
- akin
- alike
- allied
- approach
- clock
- difference
- equal
- firm
- homogeneous
- homogenous
- identical
- identikit
- inch
- Rome
- same
- same difference idiom
- same old same old idiom
- sameness
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closely adverb (SECRETIVE)
in a way that tries hard to keep something secret:
a closely guarded secret
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Closeness in distance and time
- a few/couple of steps idiom
- a hair's breadth idiom
- a stone's throw idiom
- ace
- anywhere
- anywhere near idiom
- face-to-face
- float around
- hand to hand idiom
- hard by
- here
- proximity
- roof
- round the corner idiom
- shadow
- shout
- step
- stick together
- towards
- under the same roof idiom
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closely adverb (NEAR)
C1 not far in time or position:
The Swiss boat is in the lead, followed closely by the French.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Closeness in distance and time
- a few/couple of steps idiom
- a hair's breadth idiom
- a stone's throw idiom
- ace
- anywhere
- anywhere near idiom
- face-to-face
- float around
- hand to hand idiom
- hard by
- here
- proximity
- roof
- round the corner idiom
- shadow
- shout
- step
- stick together
- towards
- under the same roof idiom
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