Definition

Verb: 1. To terminate or conclude something, especially in a final or administrative way: This meaning refers to ending an activity, account, or process officially. 2. To sell off all remaining items to dispose of inventory: This meaning refers to the final sale of goods, often at a reduced price, to clear stock. 3. To preclude or make impossible beforehand: This meaning refers to an action that eliminates a possibility in advance.

Usage and Examples

• To terminate an account or activity:
  • The store will close out its seasonal section next week.
  • I need to close out my old bank account.
• To sell off remaining stock:
  • The manager decided to close out last year's models with a huge discount.
  • These items are on sale because we are closing them out.
• To preclude or make impossible (often used in sports or competitive contexts):
  • The team's early lead closed out any chance of a comeback.
  • His brilliant opening move closed out most defensive options for his opponent.

Advanced Usage

• In finance/investing: To finalize a position by selling a held security.
  • The investor closed out her futures contract before the expiration date.
• In sports: To secure a victory, especially by performing decisively at the end.
  • The pitcher closed out the game with three strikeouts.

Variants and Related Words

• Closeout (noun): A final sale to dispose of goods; the act of closing something out.
  • All furniture is priced for quick sale during the closeout.
• Closing (noun/adjective): The act of ending something. Related but not a direct variant of the phrasal verb.

Synonyms

• Terminate: To bring to an end.
• Conclude: To bring to a close.
• Liquidate: To settle a debt or convert assets into cash.
• Sell off: To sell all or part of an asset.
• Preclude: To prevent from happening.

Phrasal Verbs

• Close out is itself a phrasal verb. Its meanings are distinct from the individual words "close" and "out."

Related Idioms

• Close the books on (something): To stop thinking about or dealing with something because it is finished. This idiom is related to the "terminate" sense of .
  • It's time to close the books on that project and move forward.

Verb

1. terminate
   • We closed out our account
2. terminate by selling off or disposing of
   • He closed out his line of sports cars
3. make impossible, especially beforehand