Closely

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkləʊsliː/

Origin

close + -ly

Full definition of closely

Adverb

1. In a close manner.Finnish and Estonian are closely related languages.The borderline between East and West Berlin was very closely guarded.The chairs are too closely spaced.
• 2012, April 29, Nathan Rabin, TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992), “King Homer” follows the story of King Kong closely, with Mr. Burns taking the freakishly over-sized King Homer from his native Africa, where he lives proud as a simian god, to the United States, where he is an initially impressive but ultimately rather limited Broadway attraction.
2. (obsolete) secretly; privately
• SpenserThat nought she did but wayle, and often steepe
  Her dainty couch with tears which closely she did weepe.