as in to jail
to put in or as if in prison
if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the firm conviction that juvenile offenders should never be held in adult lockups
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lock (up)
Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025
The report proposes changes that are intended to ease overcrowding in the lockups and assist neighborhood that would have the new, smaller jails.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
The men were sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center, a lockup known for allegations of human rights abuses.
—Didi Martinez, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
One also wonders if Mayfair Witches kept Moira in lockup for an entire episode because her mind-reading powers would render all of our other narrative action DOA.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
Once Joe left alone — with Halsey (Phil Burke), the suspect, in lockup — the lights flicker out.
—Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025
The report proposes changes that are intended to ease overcrowding in the lockups and assist neighborhood that would have the new, smaller jails.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
The men were sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center, a lockup known for allegations of human rights abuses.
—Didi Martinez, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
One also wonders if Mayfair Witches kept Moira in lockup for an entire episode because her mind-reading powers would render all of our other narrative action DOA.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
-
He was arrested after the warrant and was jailed from Feb. 2 to July 22, 2021, sources said.—
Ellen Moynihan,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
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Yoon’s ouster will probably lead to a fresh rethinking of South Korea’s political system, which has seen four of its eight presidents either jailed or impeached since the nation became a democracy in 1987 after decades of authoritarian rule.—
Max Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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He was not immediately remanded and will report to prison at a future date.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2025
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Related article Even for an administrative hearing, Luigi Mangione draws crowds at New York City courthouse Mangione’s top federal charge, murder through use of a firearm, could land him a death sentence or life in prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.—
Michelle Watson,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While the Trump administration called the deportees sent to El Salvador terrorists, criminals and gangsters, a 60 Minutes investigation could not find criminal records for 75% of the 238 Venezuelan men imprisoned at CECOT as part of the March 15 operation.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
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The government has been accused of imprisoning political dissidents, reporters and religious leaders, with thousands leaving the country in the process.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Barnes, 67, was convicted and sentenced to 21 years in a Russian penitentiary in February 2024.—
Tanya Stukalova,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
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The first penitentiaries weren’t built until the late 1700s, so more extreme sentences were deemed necessary to prevent discord.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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