Definition

Verb phrase: 1. To be very near in quality, amount, or degree; to almost achieve or match something: This sense describes a situation where something or someone is very similar to or nearly reaches a specific standard, target, or outcome, but does not quite attain it. 2. To physically move near to someone or something: This sense describes the act of approaching closely in physical space.

Usage and Examples

• Verb phrase (Sense 1: Nearly achieving):

  • No other chocolate brand comes close to this one in terms of richness.
  • His latest painting comes close to being a masterpiece.
  • The athlete's performance came close to breaking the world record.

• Verb phrase (Sense 2: Physically approaching):

  • "Don't come close," he warned, "the wire might be live."
  • The deer allowed us to come close before it bounded away.

Advanced Usage

• "come close to doing something": This is a very common construction used to express nearly taking a specific action or nearly experiencing a specific event.
  • I came close to calling you last night.
  • The company came close to going bankrupt during the recession.

Variants and Related Words

• Close (adj/near): Being at a short distance away.
  • The store is close to my house.
• Approach (verb): To come near or nearer to something in distance, time, or quality.
  • The deadline is approaching quickly.

Synonyms

• Approximate: To be close or similar to something in nature or quantity.
• Nearly do: To almost perform an action.
• Border on: To be very close to being a particular thing, especially a quality or state.
  • His arrogance borders on rudeness.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Idioms

• Come near (to) (Similar to Sense 1): To be similar to or almost achieve.
  • Your idea comes near to solving the problem, but not quite.
• Close call / close shave (Idiom): A situation where something bad, dangerous, or undesirable was narrowly avoided. This idiom relates to the concept of "coming close" to a negative event.
  • Missing that falling ladder was a close call.

Verb

1. be close or similar
   • Her results approximate my own
2. nearly do something
   • She came close to quitting her job