with very little space, distance, or time between things or events
The small cottages stood closely together along the beach.
Please park the cars closely so more guests can fit in the driveway.
with great attention, care, or detail
The detective studied the fingerprints closely with a magnifying glass.
You should read the instructions closely before assembling the furniture.
in a way that shows a strong connection or relationship
Spanish and Italian are closely related languages.
The new policy is closely linked to environmental concerns.
almost but not quite; nearly
It was a closely contested election, with only 200 votes separating the candidates.
The two runners finished the race closely, just a fraction of a second apart.
