lock away
phrasal verb
locked away; locking away; locks away
1
: to put (something) in a locked container, place, etc.
The jewelry was locked away in a cabinet.
2
: to put (someone) in a locked place (such as a prison) for a long period of time
lock away a criminal
The state locked their sister away in a psychiatric hospital.
3
: to keep (oneself) alone in a room or place for a long period of time
He locked himself away in his room while he studied.
He was locked away in his room while he studied.
Examples of lock away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The long-haired blond and brutish god of symbiotes, Knull is locked away on an alien planet, and the bonding of Eddie and Venom is the literal key keeping him from escaping and unleashing a wave of annihilation.
—
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
The data existed in the community; it was just locked away from management.
—Andrew Binns, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The graduating class finds their simpatico homeroom teacher replaced by a humorless, by-the-book type, and the Music Research Club is deemed a fire hazard and shut down, the electronic equipment locked away in a storeroom.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
But with Celebrimbor locked away in his tower forging the nine rings of power that will eventually transform mortal men into the Nazgûl, the other Eregion elves are unable to muster a defense capable of withstanding the orcs’ assault.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lock away 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
The data existed in the community; it was just locked away from management.
—Andrew Binns, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The graduating class finds their simpatico homeroom teacher replaced by a humorless, by-the-book type, and the Music Research Club is deemed a fire hazard and shut down, the electronic equipment locked away in a storeroom.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
But with Celebrimbor locked away in his tower forging the nine rings of power that will eventually transform mortal men into the Nazgûl, the other Eregion elves are unable to muster a defense capable of withstanding the orcs’ assault.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lock away
Dictionary Entries Near lock away
Cite this Entry
“Lock away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lock%20away. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share