German word

schließen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃliːsən/

Meaning

  • verbclose

Example

Ich schließe die Tür.

I close the door.

Illustration for schließen (close)

More examples

Ich schließe das Buch.

I close the book.

Core concept

A door, business, or sequence reaches a closed boundary where use or continuation can no longer proceed.

Common phrases

  • die Tür schließen

    close the door

  • das Fenster schließen

    close the window

  • das Buch schließen

    close the book

Similar words

zumachen: A common informal way to shut a door or window by hand.
abschließen: Locks a door, bicycle, or similar item to prevent access or movement.
zuziehen: Shuts a door or window by drawing it closed.

Definition in German

etwas so verschließen, dass Zugang oder Nutzung endet; übertragen auch einen Prozess zum Abschluss bringen

Word origin

The verb continues Old High German sliozan and Middle High German sliezen, forms from the inherited Germanic root for closing.

Usage tips

  • Schließen can mean ending an operation or institution, while abschließen more specifically adds the sense of securing with a lock or completing something.

Other meanings

  • close downverb
  • endverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word