to lock up

Examples

• All

• An incredible 80.7 percent of locked-up girls report having run away from home.

  Academic text (2004)

• People are indeed locked up for expressing opposition and are sometimes handled roughly.

  Academic text (1996)

• This is the time you are all locked up in your homes, in your rooms.

• However, after paying the money, he was locked up and placed in jail for six months.

  Academic text (1992)

• "I'm sorry my husband had to lock you up, but he thought you might be dangerous."

  Fiction book (1995)

• We locked him up and threw away the key.

  The Rock (1996)

• And then the second thing that's so important, lock up your guns.

• I went back into the house, locked up, and climbed the stairs to bed.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Maybe then they'd lock him up and you could get on with a more normal life.

  Fiction book (1995)

• All chemicals should be labeled and locked up except when being used under supervision.

  Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

L

to lock

vsto lock up

∞ 1.0

To fasten something with a key so other people cannot open it

focuses more on the act of putting into a safe or secure place

T

to trap

vsto lock up

550 2.6

To catch and hold someone or something so they cannot leave

is about intentional placing for safety or prevention, not just capture methods

L

to lock in

vsto lock up

425 3.9

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

is similar but emphasizes placing for safety or prevention rather than sealing

D

to detain

vsto lock up

• Formal

197 5.9

To keep someone with the police for questioning

is more general, applying also to safety or simple prevention of escape

P

to put away

vsto lock up

147 5.8

To lock someone in prison or a secure place

can mean that too but also includes nonpunitive safety placements

I

to imprison

vsto lock up

• Formal

131 4.2

Put someone in prison as a punishment or keep them locked up

is broader, including nonpunitive confinement for safety or prevention

L

to lock away

vsto lock up

88 3.4

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

is the same idea but highlights safety as a common reason

S

to shut in

vsto lock up

19 5.1

Surround something completely so it cannot get out or move

shares enclosure but is used more for general safety or restraint reasons

S

to shackle

vsto lock up

19 6.2

To restrain someone with chains or limit their freedom

focuses on placing somewhere secure rather than using physical bindings

S

to shut up

vsto lock up

11 5.5

Lock someone inside a place so they cannot leave

focuses on safety or preventing escape rather than absolute sealing

C

to coop up

vsto lock up

• Informal

11 6.4

To keep a person or animal inside a small space like a cage

covers confinement generally but does not imply small or cramped conditions

P

to padlock

vsto lock up

10 3.4

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

refers generally to placing in a secure place, not only the fastening method

J

to jail

vsto lock up

8 2.1

To put someone in prison as punishment

covers that case but also everyday secure or safety placements

C

to cage in

vsto lock up

6 5.4

To put someone or something into a small space with bars to stop them moving freely

is broader, including many secure places not necessarily cages

S

to shut away

vsto lock up

5 5.5

Keep people and things in a place where they cannot leave or be seen

keeps the same confinement idea but stresses safety or escape prevention

I

to immure

vsto lock up

• Archaic

1 9.9

To lock someone inside a room or building against their will

is similar but commonly used for keeping safe as well as imprisoning

Antonyms

R

to release

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

S

to set free

226 2.7

To let a person or animal go after keeping them in a place where they could not leave

How Confined

to imprison

• Formal

131 4.2

to lock up

525 4.0

to detain

• Formal

197 5.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology