to shut

Examples

• All

• Reduce humidity in the house in the autumn by keeping doors shut when cooking, bathing, or showering.

  Academic text (2011)

• And I walked in and he shut the door and I just sobbed.

• I need you to shut them down.

  Return to Sender (2022)

• This, of course, suddenly shut down the reactor.''

  The China Syndrome (1979)

• In New Orleans, the public school system was shut down, and many other schools and districts were affected.

  Academic text (2011)

• Start centres and old people's day centres slam shut over the next few months.

  Academic text (2011)

• The darkness has spread to your eyes; open or shut, they can't see a thing.

  Fiction book (1990)

• " Oh, no, " Josie cried and shut her eyes in terror for her sister.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Roy adds the ledger from the back seat, shuts the trunk, and walks away.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Jehane entered and paused as the door sighed shut behind him to examine her.

  Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

C

to close

vsto shut

∞ 1.0

To shut something so it is not open

means the physical act of making something not open

S

to seal

vsto shut

457 2.5

To close something tightly to stop air or water getting in

is the ordinary act of making something not open, not airtight

L

to latch

vsto shut

58 2.5

To fasten a door or gate with a small metal part

means the general act rather than fastening with a catch

S

to shutter

vsto shut

29 4.6

To close windows or doors by putting covers over them

is a general act not tied to this specific panel method

C

to close off

vsto shut

24 3.9

Stop people or vehicles from entering a place

is the simple act of making something not open, not access focus

S

to slam shut

vsto shut

• Informal

17 2.7

To close a door or window quickly and hard so it makes a loud noise

describes the same ending action but without violent force

C

to close the window

vsto shut

14 1.0

To shut a window so it is not open

describes the general physical act applied to many objects

S

to shut off

vsto shut

11 4.0

Prevent someone or somewhere from having contact with others

is the physical act of making things not open, not social isolation

S

to seal off

vsto shut

3 3.7

Close something tightly so nothing can get in or out

is the basic act without stressing tight security or leakage prevention

D

to draw the curtain

vsto shut

2 3.7

To close a curtain by pulling it across a window

is the broad act, not limited to fabric coverings

S

to seal the container

vsto shut

1 1.9

Close something tightly so nothing can get in or out

is the general action applied to many objects, not only containers

C

to close one's eyes

vsto shut

1.3

Shut your eyes to rest, relax, or not see something

is the general physical act rather than this restful action

P

to pull the shutter down

vsto shut

4.4

Close the cover on a window or door by moving it down

is the basic action without focusing on this specific movement

S

to stopple

vsto shut

• Archaic

9.9

To close a bottle or jar with a small plug

is the broader physical action, not limited to stopper use

Antonyms

O

to open

∞ 1.0

To make something not closed so you can get in

Idioms

K

to keep one's mouth shut

• Informal

116 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

P

to put up or shut up

• Slang

6 7.7

Tell someone to do what they say or stop talking

S

to shut one's mouth

• Informal

4 4.4

To stop talking to keep a secret or when told to be quiet

K

to keep one's cakehole shut

• Offensive

9.9

Not say anything or tell other people

S

to shut one's assmouth

• Offensive

9.9

Tells someone to be quiet in a rude way

S

to shut one's gob

• UK

9.9

To tell someone rudely to be quiet

Phrasal Verbs

S

to shut up

• Offensive

∞ 4.1

Tell someone to be quiet in a rude or angry way

S

to shut down

541 2.9

Stop a machine, business, or system from working

S

to shut out

99 3.8

To stop something from entering, being included, or being thought about

S

to shut off

83 2.6

Stop something from working by using a switch or valve

S

to shut up

50 5.5

Lock someone inside a place so they cannot leave

S

to slam shut

• Informal

17 2.7

To close a door or window quickly and hard so it makes a loud noise

S

to shut off

11 4.0

Prevent someone or somewhere from having contact with others

S

to shut away

3 5.5

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

S

shut up

3 7.2

Kept inside a small place and cannot leave

S

to shut up shop

• UK

1 4.7

Close a shop for the day or forever

S

to shut in

5.1

Surround something completely so it cannot get out or move

Compounds

O

open-and-shut

18 3.8

Very clear and easy to decide or solve

S

shut-eye

• Informal

16 7.2

A short sleep taken to rest, often at night

S

shut-in

1 8.4

Staying mostly at home because of illness, injury, or not wanting to go out

How Closed

to seal

457 2.5

to lock

∞ 1.0

to bolt

34 2.8

to shut

∞ 1.0

to open

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology