Comparative for with little or no space in between
“Zeb sat closely to his mother, attentive and patient.”
Comparative for subsequently within a short period of time
“He crossed the finished line first, followed closely by Elizabeth.”
Comparative for in a narrowly enclosed way
“Hundreds of fish were closely confined inside the pen.”
(of a contest) Comparative for involving effort due to a small margin or a competitive opponent
“He eventually emerged as the winner in the closely fought contest.”
Comparative for in a way that involves a strong resemblance or connection
“They are small-toothed whales that are very closely related to oceanic dolphins.”
Comparative for in a collective or unified way
“The two companies will be working closely on this project.”
Comparative for very affectionately or intimately
“We have bonded closely with our new pet dog.”
Comparative for in a careful and attentive way
“Listen closely for any changes in his tone of voice.”
Comparative for in a cautious or secretive way
“For many years, his affairs were a closely guarded secret.”
Comparative for exactly as stated in words, not figuratively or idiomatically
Comparative for with meticulous attention to standards or precision
Related Words and Phrases
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