close down

stop operating permanently (a business, factory, or school)

B1

What does "close (sth) down" mean?

To close down means that a business, school, factory, or other organisation stops operating completely and does not reopen. This is a permanent ending, not just a temporary break — the place shuts for good. You can use it to talk about what an organisation does itself ('the shop closed down'), what someone else forces to happen ('the council closed the school down'), or what happens to it ('the factory was closed down'). It is a neutral phrase that works well in everyday conversation and in news reports. It is often used with places like factories, branches, hospitals, mines, and restaurants.

Examples

How to use it

place / organisation + close down

Used without an object when the business or institution itself is the subject — this is very common in everyday speech.

The bakery on the high street closed down last summer.

close down + place / organisation

Used when someone or something causes the closure, with the object following the particle.

Budget cuts forced the council to close down several libraries.

close + place / organisation + down

The object can also go between the two parts, especially with short noun phrases.

The health inspectors closed the restaurant down after their visit.

close + it / them + down

When using a pronoun instead of a noun, it must always go between 'close' and 'down'.

The branch was losing money, so the company decided to close it down.

be closed down

The passive form is very natural and common, especially in news reporting.

The old coal mine was closed down in the early 1990s.

Common Collocations

factoryschoolbusinessbranchhospitalshop

Common Mistakes

Using 'close down' for temporary closures

'Close down' means something stops operating permanently. For a temporary closure — like shutting for the evening or for repairs — use 'close' or 'close up' instead.

✗ The café closes down every Sunday.
✓ The café closes every Sunday. / The café is closed on Sundays.
Confusing 'close down' with 'shut down'

'Shut down' can describe machines, computers, or temporary stoppages, but 'close down' is used specifically for businesses or institutions that stop operating for good. If you are talking about turning off a computer or stopping a machine, use 'shut down'.

✗ Please close down your laptop before the meeting.
✓ Please shut down your laptop before the meeting.
Pronoun placed after the particle

When using a pronoun object like 'it' or 'them', it must come between 'close' and 'down', not after 'down'.

✗ The company closed down it after years of losses.
✓ The company closed it down after years of losses.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both speech and writing, including news reports. It is very commonly used without an object: 'The company closed down last year.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'close down' be used without an object?

Yes — and this is actually one of the most common ways to use it. When the business or institution is the subject, you don't need to name a separate object. For example: 'The local cinema closed down years ago.' This intransitive form is very natural in everyday speech.

Is 'was closed down' correct English?

Yes, the passive form 'was closed down' is completely natural and very frequently used, especially in news articles and reports. For example: 'The factory was closed down by the government.' It is one of the most common ways this phrasal verb appears in writing.

Does 'close down' always mean something is finished permanently?

Yes — permanence is the key feature of this phrasal verb. If a place could reopen, 'close down' is not the right choice. A useful test: if you can add 'for good' to the sentence and it still makes sense, 'close down' is probably correct.

Can I say 'The business is closing down right now'?

This sounds a little unusual. 'Close down' works best in the simple past, present perfect, or future — for example, 'The business closed down', 'It has closed down', or 'It will close down'. Using the present continuous suggests the process of closing is happening at this exact moment, which is rare and can sound odd.

What kinds of things can 'close down'?

Typically businesses and institutions: factories, shops, schools, hospitals, branches, mines, restaurants, newspapers, and government departments are all common. The key idea is that it must be an organisation or place that operates — not a machine or device. For machines and computers, 'shut down' is the better choice.

Related Phrasal Verbs

shut (sth) down

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