come close

phrase

1
: to almost do something
We didn't win, but we came close.
often + to
The band came very close to breaking up.
We came close to winning the championship this season.
2
: to be similar to something or as good as expected
She said they taste just like real hot dogs, but they don't even come close (to the real thing).

Examples of come close in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the case of Amá in Philadelphia, the swordfish tacos certainly come close. The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 None of his fellow chain crew members come close to equaling Moreno’s years of service. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Most women with postpartum psychosis develop manic and depressive symptoms that can come close together or overlap. Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 To be clear, Tuesday’s feat didn’t come close to approaching the overall land-speed record, which Green set with jet power in 1997. ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for come close

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Cite this Entry

“Come close.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20close. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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