🔒 To secure 🔒 A security device 🦵 To become rigid 💇 A hair curl 🚢 To use a water gate 🚢 A water gate 🤼 A wrestling hold

to lock

398 2.5

To become stiff and unable to move a part of the body

verb
/lɑk/

: bloquear

Together, we have supported struggling states, such as Haiti, in locking in their transitions to democracy and security.
lock into place
the brakes locked
remain locked

How is the changing spell locked and made to last?

Autoplay Next

Examples

But this really helps to lock my makeup on all day.
Then she had hysterics, but only when she had locked herself in the bathroom.

Fiction book (1990)
Like it's going to stay locked in in place all day.
So keep it locked to five in a bit.
So let's just find those again and lock the knees in place.
Shut this door and lock it and don't open it till the police come.

The Maltese Falcon (1941)
So the Justica had gotten in and had already locked their security programs into the Justica systems.

Fiction book (1991)
Locked on and engaged.

Last Breath (2025)
Accurately or not, arms control treaties are often seen as locking in the status quo.

Academic text (1994)
She used the key to lock the door securely before leaving the house.

Synonyms

to hold

vsto lock

∞ 1.9

To stop yourself from showing a feeling or reaction

is specifically about making something rigid and unable to change position

to stick

vsto lock

752 3.4

To become fixed in one position and be hard to move

implies an active making rigid and tightly engaged, not only sticking

to secure

vsto lock

347 3.3

To fasten firmly so it cannot move or be taken

focuses on making something rigid and tightly held rather than just safe

to pin

vsto lock

99 2.1

To hold something or someone firmly so they cannot move

emphasizes complete rigid engagement rather than temporary trapping

to lock up

vsto lock

97 2.6

Close a house or safe with a key to keep people out

focuses on causing rigidity and immobilization rather than preventing access

to engage

vsto lock

Specialized

96 5.1

To make a machine part start working

is about preventing movement and creating rigidity rather than activating parts

to restrain

vsto lock

86 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

focuses more on creating a rigid, locked state rather than general prevention

to lock in

vsto lock

70 3.9

To keep something inside so it cannot escape by closing or locking

is about rigid engagement and immobility rather than enclosure alone

to fasten

vsto lock

68 1.6

Hold something in place so it cannot move

means making the object rigid and tightly engaged, not only attached

to clamp

vsto lock

47 3.3

Fasten something tightly to keep it from moving

is about causing overall rigidity and locked position, not only tool use

to shackle

vsto lock

35 6.2

To restrain someone with chains or limit their freedom

applies more generally to making objects rigid and tightly engaged

to lock away

vsto lock

32 3.4

Put someone or something somewhere they cannot leave and others cannot reach

is concerned with tight immobilization or rigid engagement rather than storage location

to hold steady

vsto lock

17 2.9

Keep something or someone in place and still

adds the idea of rigid, tight engagement rather than simple stability

to interlock

vsto lock

15 4.1

To join parts so they fit tightly and move together

focuses on a single rigid, locked position rather than coordinated connection

to padlock

vsto lock

11 3.4

To fasten something using a small metal lock with a U-shaped bar

means creating a rigid, tightly held state not tied to a specific device

to fixate

vsto lock

2 6.8

To fasten something so it does not move

stresses tight engagement and inability to change position rather than just stable

to clinch

vsto lock

1 4.8

To bend the end of a nail to hold things together

emphasizes making an item rigid and unable to change position

to pinion

vsto lock

NSFW

1 9.5

To tie someone's arms or legs so they cannot move

is broader, meaning making things rigid or tightly held, not only binding people

Antonyms

to unlock

212 1.0

To open a lock using a key or code

to loosen

88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

Idioms

under lock and key

16 3.0

Kept in a locked place so people cannot take it

to lock horns

Informal

5 5.1

To argue strongly with someone about something

to lock him up and throw away the key

Informal

2 9.5

Put someone in prison and never let them out

to lock up and toss the key

Informal

9.3

Put someone in prison and never let them leave

Phrasal Verbs

to lock up

300 4.0

Put someone or something in a place where they cannot leave, for example a jail

to lock up

97 2.6

Close a house or safe with a key to keep people out

to lock in

70 3.9

To keep something inside so it cannot escape by closing or locking

to lock out

65 3.8

To stop someone from entering a building or using an account

to lock away

32 3.4

Put someone or something somewhere they cannot leave and others cannot reach

to lock in

29 4.4

To make a decision or plan fixed so it cannot be easily changed

to lock into

22 5.8

A situation where you cannot leave an agreement or plan

to lock pick

2 7.7

To open a lock without a key by using tools

to lock into a routine

4.2

Do the same things at the same time every day

Compounds

air lock

Specialized

5 5.6

A chamber that lets people move between places with different air pressure while preventing air mixing

combination lock

5 2.8

A device that opens only when you enter the right numbers

Caps Lock

2 2.6

A key on a keyboard that makes all typed letters capital until turned off

safety lock

2 3.5

A device on a gun that stops it from firing by accident

vapor lock

Specialized

1 7.4

A stop in the fuel moving to a car engine because heat makes gas bubbles

window lock

1 2.3

A small device attached to a window that keeps it closed and stops people opening it

cylinder lock

3.5

A device with a round key part that opens a door when the right key turns it

lever lock

Specialized

6.7

A device that keeps a door or safe closed until someone lifts the levers to the right heights

lock chamber

Specialized

5.8

A part of a canal with gates that raises or lowers boats by changing the water level

lock ring

Specialized

5.8

A small round ring that keeps a nut from coming loose

lock washer

Specialized

5.1

A small metal ring that stops a nut from coming loose

lock-gate

Specialized

4.9

A gate that opens and closes to let boats pass and control water in a canal

lock-up option

Formal

9.5

A right for a friendly investor to buy key assets before others to stop a takeover

love-lock

8.4

A padlock attached to a place like a bridge by a couple to show their lasting love

heart-shaped love-lock

6.0

A small metal lock shaped like a heart that couples attach to bridges

ignition lock

Specialized

5.1

A part in a car that stops the engine from starting without the right key

safety lock

2.8

A lock on a door that keeps people from opening it from outside

sash lock

Specialized

6.2

A small lock on a window with two moving panels that keeps them closed

scalp lock

9.9

A long piece of hair left on top of a shaved head, worn in some Indigenous North American cultures

wheel lock

Archaic

9.9

A gun device with a rotating wheel that makes sparks to light powder

How Fixed

to fix

218 1.0

to lock

398 2.5

to loosen

88 1.0

to release

∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

lock infinitive

locked past

locked past participle

locking present participle

locks third person singular

Etymology

To lock (become stiff) comes from the idea of being fixed or held in one place, like something caught by a door lock. So when a joint or muscle 'locks', it becomes stuck and will not move.