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
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
Armond White, National Review, 16 May 2025
Kelce’s team has appeared in the Super Bowl for three consecutive years, breaking their two-year losing streak earlier this year when the Philadelphia Eagles shut them out of a three-peat win at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025
When times are good, the trapdoor generally stays shut but when a bust comes along these trapdoors start springing open.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Brighton have one more game after that before the window shuts, away to Nottingham Forest on February 1.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shut
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Verb
Statues are shown tagged and wrapped before shipment, sealed in wooden crates, drilled shut as if in reverse enslavement, and soon to be carted away by a white crew wearing Covid masks.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 May 2025
Kelce’s team has appeared in the Super Bowl for three consecutive years, breaking their two-year losing streak earlier this year when the Philadelphia Eagles shut them out of a three-peat win at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Adjective
At Bradford, this meant heading towards exit gates at the back of the stand that were padlocked shut, and turnstiles that could only be operated by anyone entering from outside.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025
When times are good, the trapdoor generally stays shut but when a bust comes along these trapdoors start springing open.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
And even with the border shut, drones, planes and tunnels can easily continue supplying the market.
—Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Brighton have one more game after that before the window shuts, away to Nottingham Forest on February 1.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shut
Cite this Entry
“Shut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shut. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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