closing

[ kloh-zing ]

noun

1. the end or conclusion, as of a speech.
2. something that closes; a fastening, as of a purse.
3. the final phase of a transaction, especially the meeting at which procedures are carried out in the execution of a contract for the sale of real estate.
4. an act or instance of failing or going bankrupt:

   an increase in bank closings.

5. complimentary close.

adjective

1. concluding; ending; final.

closing

1. Usually applied to real estate transactions, it refers to delivery of the deed of ownership from the owner to the buyer in return for full payment.

Other Words From

• half-closing adjective
• self-closing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of closing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; close, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The e-closing rooms are also designed to host the final closings.

From Fortune

When the customer is buying a house, the purchase and mortgage closings usually happen at the same time.

From Fortune

Step 6 is the part of closing often known as “post closing.”

From Fortune

With each announcement of another closing I find myself wondering if I could have done more as a customer.

From Eater

When making those tough decisions, media companies will lean toward closing non-core domestic operations.

From Digiday

I had a feeling that Turkish authorities were closing their eyes.

From The Daily Beast

The family was taking some private moments for a closing of the coffin in keeping with Chinese ritual.

From The Daily Beast

Both were dead certain “security” had gotten to her and were closing in on us.

From The Daily Beast

But for some of us, while its closing was sad, it was a tempered sadness.

From The Daily Beast

The early reaction to Shami closing his account is similarly alarmed.

From The Daily Beast

He knew that not only was it a signal for the closing of the city gates, but it was also a warning that bedtime was at hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Hard up as we are for shell he thinks it best to blaze it away freely before closing and to trust our bayonets when we get in.

From Project Gutenberg

I shall speak of these in succession, beginning with the oldest and closing with the newest that has come under my observation.

From Project Gutenberg

During that fortnight of silence the whole of the Turkish Empire has been moving—closing in—on the Dardanelles.

From Project Gutenberg

Closing the holes again and blowing harder, we get the scale an octave higher.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• closure
• completion
• conclusion
• termination