What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
densely
Example
The city center was densely populated with tall buildings. [densely: adverb]
Example
The forest was densely packed with trees and undergrowth. [densely: adverb]
closely
Example
The two friends walked closely together as they chatted. [closely: adverb]
Example
The detective examined the crime scene closely for any clues. [closely: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Closely is more commonly used than densely in everyday language. Closely is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while densely is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between densely and closely?
Both densely and closely can be used in formal and informal contexts, but closely may be more appropriate in formal writing due to its versatility and lack of negative connotations.
