Closeness

/ˈkloʊsnəs/

nounBeginner📊CommonRelationship
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase1 question

Definitions

1

The state or quality of being near or together, often implying intimacy, proximity, or connection.

/ˈkloʊsnəs/

nounneutralBeginner
Relationship

State of being near or intimate

The closeness of the family was heartwarming.

💡 Simply: Closeness means being really close to someone or something, like a best friend or a warm hug. It's about being near and feeling connected.

👶 For kids: Being really close to someone or something.

More Examples

2

I appreciate the closeness of my friends.

How It's Used

Relationships

"The closeness between siblings was evident in their shared laughter."

Physical Proximity

"The closeness of the buildings made it feel claustrophobic."

Idioms & expressions

Close-knit community

A community where people are closely connected and supportive of each other.

"Our village is a close-knit community, where everyone knows each other."

From Middle English *closenes, from close + -ness. The root 'close' has Germanic origins, signifying proximity.

The word 'closeness' has been used in similar ways throughout history, emphasizing proximity and intimacy.

Memory tip

Think of 'close' and add '-ness' to indicate a state of being close.

Word Origin

Original meaning

"to shut, to enclose"

emotional closenessphysical closenessclose relationshipclose friend

Common misspellings

closnessclosenes

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written