shut; shutting
1
a
: to move into position to close an opening
shut the lid
b
: to prevent entrance to or passage to or from
2
: to confine by or as if by enclosure
shut herself in her study
3
: to fasten with a lock or bolt
4
: to close by bringing enclosing or covering parts together
shut the eyes
5
: to cause to cease or suspend an operation or activity
—often used with down
1
: to close itself or become closed
flowers that shut at night
2
: to cease or suspend an operation or activity
—often used with down
Synonyms
Examples of shut in a Sentence
Verb
He shut his eyes and went to sleep.
She shut the book loudly.
I accidentally shut the door on her fingers.
flowers that shut at night
The door shut slowly behind me.
The owner is shutting the pub for the weekend.
They plan to shut the factory by the end of the year.
Adjective
She listened to the music with her eyes shut.
Check to make sure that all the windows are shut.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
In the book, Lee and Allerton get close to finding the ayahuasca, but that door is quickly shut.
—Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 18 Dec. 2024
Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 14 Dec. 2024
Once the stadium reached capacity, gates stayed shut.
—Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 18 July 2024
Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
One eyelid is swollen shut and is accompanied by a fever.
—Andrew Greenberg, Verywell Health, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shut 
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Verb
Yellowstone just aired its season 5B finale, which may have shut the barn door on that flagship series (though spinoffs are in the works).
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
In the book, Lee and Allerton get close to finding the ayahuasca, but that door is quickly shut.
—Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Robert Haugh: Her eye was swollen shut, black and blue.
—Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 14 Dec. 2024
Once the stadium reached capacity, gates stayed shut.
—Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 18 July 2024
Noun
Only then did the Don slam the negotiation window shut.
—Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
One eyelid is swollen shut and is accompanied by a fever.
—Andrew Greenberg, Verywell Health, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shut
Dictionary Entries Near shut
Cite this Entry
“Shut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shut. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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