cloze: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Educational, Technical
Quick answer
What does “cloze” mean?
A language exercise where words are omitted from a text and must be filled in.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A language exercise where words are omitted from a text and must be filled in.
A technique used in testing reading comprehension, language proficiency, and vocabulary by systematically deleting words (e.g., every nth word) from a passage, requiring the reader to infer the missing items from context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is highly specialized within language education and assessment contexts.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse but standard terminology in applied linguistics and language teaching in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cloze” in a Sentence
administer a cloze (test)complete a cloze (exercise)design a cloze (procedure)score a cloze (test)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cloze” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The researcher will cloze the passage by deleting every seventh word.
- We need to cloze this text for the proficiency exam.
American English
- The teacher cloze'd the article to create a vocabulary activity.
- Before the test, they cloze the narrative systematically.
adjective
British English
- Students completed a cloze comprehension task.
- The cloze format proved effective for assessment.
American English
- She used a cloze exercise to check for understanding.
- The study compared cloze and multiple-choice results.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Standard term in applied linguistics, language testing, and educational psychology for a specific assessment technique.
Everyday
Extremely rare; unknown to the general public outside of language learning contexts.
Technical
Precise term for a text-based completion task with systematic word deletion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cloze”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cloze”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloze”
- Misspelling as 'close test'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'test' (It's a specific type).
- Incorrect pronunciation as /kloʊs/ (like the adjective 'close').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, broadly, but 'cloze' often implies a more systematic deletion pattern (e.g., every nth word), while 'gap-fill' can be more general and target specific grammar or vocabulary points.
Yes, though it's less common. It means to prepare a text by deleting words to create a cloze test (e.g., 'to cloze a passage').
The term originates from the Gestalt psychology concept of 'closure' (the mind's tendency to perceive incomplete patterns as complete). It was coined in the 1950s.
No. It is a specialized technical term used almost exclusively within language teaching, testing, and applied linguistics. The average native speaker would likely not know it.
A language exercise where words are omitted from a text and must be filled in.
Cloze is usually academic, educational, technical in register.
Cloze: in British English it is pronounced /kləʊz/, and in American English it is pronounced /kloʊz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine closing a gap in a sentence; 'CLOZE' sounds like 'close', which is what you do when you fill in the missing word.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS COMPLETION (Understanding a text fully is like having all its parts in place, closing the gaps).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cloze' primarily used?