close-up
noun
a photograph taken at close range or with a long focal-length lens, on a relatively large scale.
close-up
American
[klohs-uhp]
/ ˈkloʊsˌʌp /
Or
closeup
noun
-
close-ups
plural
-
a photograph taken at close range or with a long focal-length lens, on a relatively large scale.
-
Also called close shot. Movies, Television. a camera shot taken at a very short distance from the subject, to permit a close and detailed view of an object or action.
-
an intimate view or presentation of anything.
adjective
-
of or resembling a close-up.
-
intimate or detailed; close-in.
close-up
British
/ ˈkləʊsˌʌp /
noun
-
a photograph or film or television shot taken at close range
-
a detailed or intimate view or examination
a close-up of modern society
verb
-
to shut entirely
-
(intr) to draw together
the ranks closed up
-
(intr) (of wounds) to heal completely
close up
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of close-up
An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; noun use of adverbial phrase close up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Marvel’s new X-Men are ready for their close-up — finally.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
As part of that event, a helicopter was brought in to demonstrate close-up some of the methods used to dowse fires from the sky.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
During the flyby, the spacecraft captured the first close-up images and collected detailed scientific measurements.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
She got on her new employer’s radar through a referral, and her page was ready for its close-up when the time came.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
After the sympathy-generating close-up of the kid, the father, dressed in a shabby suit, took us up onto the roof of the building.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
“It’s an American tragedy” when small businesses close up shop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Global stocks aren’t nearly as buoyant, however, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 edging higher to close up 0.15% to start the week.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
Regulators voted to hold off plans until 2030 after two major oil refineries threatened to close up shop in the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
The stock climbed as much as 108.8% above its IPO price, to an intraday high of $386.34, before paring gains to close up 68.2% at $311.07.
From MarketWatch ● May 15, 2026
I look unflinchingly at Fizz’s face, but my lips close up after saying his name.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
The show was always brilliant at orchestrating moods, with its slow-fast, quiet-loud contrasts, its extreme close-ups and noisy action scenes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
“You have to understand camera composition, which shots are changed. Like you can’t have two close-ups back to back, you have to start with an establishing shot,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
Some videos show puppies frolicking or close-ups of squirrels, others stream loops of squishy toys enjoyed by other animals or humans.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
The light on Mag is framed like a melodramatic diva’s spotlight, and the close-ups of Delano’s electric purple lip gloss and severe makeup heighten the sequence’s sense of surrealism.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
Ever since the Kerkopes dwarf twins had short-circuited the walls, the real-time video feed from Camp Half-Blood often fuzzed out, changing into playback of extreme dwarf close-ups - red whiskers, nostrils and bad dental work.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
