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:
After three seasons, Sheindlin said he’s ready for his close-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
One is left with the impression that this is the double perspective—both close-up, and global—that defined Church’s quest to discover nature’s beauty along with its fierce spectacle, whether at home or abroad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Their live feeds will provide continuous close-up views as the Moon gradually moves across the Sun, showing the different stages of the event.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 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
I set everything out, nice and neat and ready for a close-up, just like Arletta always did.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
It's a close up, emotional, insider's view, not a long lens and a headline.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Three weeks ago, more than 72,000 migrants poured into Ceuta, overwhelming authorities and causing many residents to close up their shops and stay inside their homes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Viewing an early medieval embroidery close up is quite something.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 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
She got up and began to close up the kiosk.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
May I suggest this video that includes several close-ups of El-Sayed’s bicep?
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2026
Adlakha singles out the quiet close-ups of Anghlong Konyak, the first-time actor who plays the chief, and the "gentleness" with which Rio captures his "subdued rage".
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Littin-Menz, who also shoots “The Rivals of Amziah King” with a sun-dappled sense of naturalistic beauty and thoughtful close-ups.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Anthropic and OpenAI will have their close-ups when they debut later, maybe in late summer or fall.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
Riefenstahl cleverly intercut long shots of the progress of the boats with close-ups of Bobby Moch and the other coxswains barking commands point-blank into the camera.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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