1 B1 neutral
Of a business or organisation: to permanently or indefinitely stop operating.
"The local bookshop closed down after thirty years because it could no longer compete with online retailers."
separable
close down
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To permanently or indefinitely stop operating, especially of a business, shop, or broadcasting service.
In plain English
When a shop, company, or service stops existing and never opens again.
What does "close down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To force a business, service, or operation to stop functioning.
"The authorities closed down the illegal radio station after just three days."
separable
3 B2 neutral
In broadcasting: to end transmissions for the day (dated/historical).
"The TV channel used to close down at midnight with the national anthem."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To close ('close') and bring activity down to nothing ('down').
Actually means
When a shop, company, or service stops existing and never opens again.
Usage tip
Used for businesses, shops, factories, radio/TV stations, and websites. Can be transitive (the government closed it down) or intransitive (the shop closed down). The implication is often permanent. Common in journalism and everyday speech.
Words that pair with "close down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
shop factory business station school service
How to conjugate "close down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
close down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
closes down
he/she/it
Past simple
closed down
yesterday
Past participle
closed down
have + pp
-ing form
closing down
continuous
Hear "close down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "close down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.