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Glite Dictionary
🔒 To trap inside ✅ To make certain
to lock in

to lock in

29 4.4
To make a decision or plan fixed so it cannot be easily changed
  • phrasal verb
  • /lɑk ɪn/
translation icon : asegurar
  • Many investors prefer to lock in their profits when the market is doing well.
  • lock in investments
  • locking in prices

Imagine that, your best price locked in for life.

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Examples

  • Luckily for Corsair, a period of exclusivity was locked in before the purchase.

    Blog text (18)

  • So now you lock in your loss by selling low.

    Tom Bilyeu

  • And I want to lock in the interest rate now, OK.

  • What that does is it locks in a low cost basis.

  • So when I make too much money, I I lock in those profits.

  • I should still be able to lock in another cheap term life policy without a hitch.

    Blog text (6)

  • The timing and magnitude of the coming demographic transformation are virtually locked in.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Leases are almost all locked in, and the industry is ready for a breather.

    Blog text (15)

  • NATO membership was a key part of locking in their turbulent democratic reforms.

  • I decided to lock in my savings account's interest rate before it changes.

Synonyms

to lock
vsto lock in
398 2.5

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

is about making a choice or arrangement hard to change rather than physical hold
to secure
vsto lock in
347 3.3

To fasten firmly so it cannot move or be taken

means making something definite or settled rather than just physically held
to seal
vsto lock in
206 5.4

To make something certain so it cannot be changed

is to make it definite but not always absolutely irreversible
to entrench
vsto lock in
45 6.7

To make an idea or belief so strong that it is hard to change

focuses on fixing decisions or arrangements rather than ideas or attitudes
to cinch
vsto lock in
5 5.8

To make sure of winning or getting something

is about making a decision or arrangement hard to change, not ensuring success

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to unlock
212 1.0

To open a lock using a key or code

How Certain

to confirm
∞ 1.8
to lock in
29 4.4
to finalize
  • US
74 3.8
to agree
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lock in infinitive
locked in past
locked in past participle
locking in present participle
locks in third person singular

Morphology

lock + in

The meaning 'to make something definite or secured' is directly built from 'lock' (to secure or fasten) plus the particle 'in' (indicating containment or fixation), so the overall sense of preventing change is compositional and predictable. This verb+particle pattern is common in English and in many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb lock in also comes from the idea of making a choice or plan fixed, like putting a lock on a calendar date or signing papers so the plan stays in place. That's why it means 'to make something definite or fixed'.