shut1 verbshut2 adjective
shutshut1 /ʃʌt/ ●●● S1 W2 verb (past tense and past participle shut, present participle shutting) 
WORD ORIGINshut1
Origin:
Old English scyttanVERB TABLE
shut
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | shut |
| he, she, it | shuts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | shut |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have shut |
| he, she, it | has shut | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had shut |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will shut |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have shut |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am shutting |
| he, she, it | is shutting | |
| you, we, they | are shutting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was shutting |
| you, we, they | were shutting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been shutting |
| he, she, it | has been shutting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been shutting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be shutting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been shutting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Come in and shut the door behind you.
- Did you hear the back door shut?
- She heard Charlotte downstairs shutting the windows, and locking up for the night.
- She lay down on the bed and shut her eyes.
- Someone had shut the gate to stop the sheep getting out onto the road.
- You'd better shut the window.
- Shut up, shut up, shut up.
- But on game day, security shut that down.
- He shut the door behind him as quietly as possible.
- Hundreds of miners ringed the Port of Mobile and shut down the whole port.
- I remember this and smile, clamping my mouth shut as Wiggen goes into action.
- Then I clamped my mouth shut again.
- This time the car stopped and a door banged shut.
- With a small exclamation she snapped the book shut, but before she could get to her feet Marc glanced up.
THESAURUS
to stop being open, or to make something stop being open. You use close and shutespecially about your eyes, your mouth, a door, a window, or a container: · Can I close the window?· Her eyes slowly closed.· He closed the door gently, so as not to wake the children.
to close something. Shut sometimes has a feeling of doing something quickly and firmly, whereas close sounds more careful: · He shut the door with a loud bang.· Shut your eyes and go to sleep.
to close a door or lid quickly and noisily, especially because you are angry: · She left the room, slamming the door behind her.
to close curtains by pulling them across a window: · The curtains were still drawn at ten o'clock in the morning.
to close a container by putting a lid onto it: · Did you put the lid on the cookie jar?
to close something so that no air or water can get in or out: · In this experiment, the chamber must be completely sealed.
Longman Language Activatorto close a door, window, gate etc to move a door, window, gate etc so that it is no longer open: · Come in and shut the door behind you.· Someone had shut the gate to stop the sheep getting out onto the road.· She heard Charlotte downstairs shutting the windows, and locking up for the night.
to shut something, especially in a careful way: · Do you mind if I close the window?· She took the necklace out of the box and closed the lid.
to shut a door quickly so that it makes a loud noise, especially because you are angry: · Jane marched out of the room slamming the door behind her.· He slammed the door so hard that the glass cracked.
to push, kick, slide etc something so that it shuts: · The woman pushed the door shut with her foot.· It started raining, so I quickly pulled the window shut.· "Sorry, we're closed,'' said the official, sliding the wooden panel shut.
to move a door so that it is almost shut: · "Tell me what's wrong,'' I said, pulling the door to.· She pushed the door to against the blinding sunlight.
to close curtains by pulling them across a window: · Let's draw the curtains. We don't want people looking in.· The curtains were closed and the room was in darkness.
to close a container to close a container, such as a box, case, or bottle: · As the teacher appeared, Matt shut the box quickly.· Russell shut his briefcase with a snap, and the meeting was over.· Put lids on all the jars and close them tightly.
to shut a container such as a bottle or box by putting a lid onto it: · Put the lid on the cookie jar when you've finished with it!· If you leave cooked food in a pan, you should always put the lid on.
to shut a container such as a bottle by putting the lid on and turning it round and round until it cannot be turned any more: screw on something: · I screwed on the top of the bottle as tightly as I could.screw something back on: · The fuel tank cap hadn't been screwed back on properly, and it came off when I drove away.screw something on: · She screwed the lid of the jar on again.
to close your eyes/mouth to close your eyes or mouth: · I lay down and closed my eyes.· He shut his eyes and listened to the music.· Lara opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.
to become shut to become shut: · He walked out and the door shut behind him.· There was a bang as the gates shut.· Her eyes closed, and she fell into a deep sleep.
also slam shut if a door slams or slams shut , it shuts quickly and makes a loud noise: · Outside in the street, car doors slammed and people were shouting.· She heard a door slam shut and the sound of footsteps on the path.
if a door, window, gate etc slides , blows , swings etc shut , it shuts by sliding, being blown, swinging etc: · The window suddenly blew shut, with a loud bang.· The elevator doors silently slid shut.
to shut something so that it cannot be opened to shut something such as a door, window, or box by turning a key in a lock: · As she left the house she locked the door.· Don't forget to lock the car.· He locked the safe and put the key in his pocket.
to lock something such as a vehicle or a building: lock up something: · I had locked up my office for the night and gone home.· He always keeps his desk locked up.lock something up: · You should take basic precautions like locking your car up.
to shut a door by sliding a small metal bar across both the door and its frame so that it cannot be opened from the other side: · My husband always bolts all the doors before going to bed.
to shut a door or window and put a bar , a piece of wood, etc across it so that people cannot get in or out: · The owner of the house had barred the back door.· Some of the survivors said that one of the fire exits had been barred.
to prevent someone from entering a room or building by locking the door: · If she wasn't home by midnight her father would lock her out.lock yourself out (=not be able to get back into a place you have locked): · We always leave a key with a neighbour in case we lock ourselves out.
to close an entrance or opening to put something into a hole or entrance so that it is permanently closed: block something up: · Martha tried to block the mouse holes up, but new ones kept appearing.block up something: · Some of the windows in the church had been blocked up.· He blocked up the entrance to the tunnel with stones.
to put something into a hole in order to stop a liquid from getting through: · We tried to plug the hole in the bottom of the boat with a plastic bag.· They didn't have enough material to plug up the gaps around the pipe.
to close an entrance or container with something that completely prevents air or water from getting in or out: · If you seal the jars well, the jam will keep for months or even years.· In this experiment, the chamber must be completely sealed.
when a door, entrance, lid etc has been shut not open: · Make sure all the windows are shut before you go out.· The gates were closed, and there was no other way in.tight shut: · Keep your eyes tight shut.
something that is locked has been shut using a key: · Jamie tried the door. "It's locked,'' he said.· All office workers should keep their personal belongings in a locked drawer.· I need my coat out of your car -- is it locked?
a door that is bolted has been shut by using a metal bar that slides across and prevents the door from being opened from the other side: · The door's bolted, we'll have to break it down.· Burglars can always find a way in, in spite of bolted doors and windows.
shut with something that prevents air or water from getting in or out: · Plants cannot survive in a sealed jar.· Sealed nuclear waste containers are then enclosed in concrete.
when a shop or office is closed also shut British if a shop or office shuts or closes , it stops being open for business: · "What time does the bank shut?" "Four o'clock."· Most of the stores close at 6:30.
also be shut if a shop or office is shut or is closed , it is not open for business: · The ticket office was closed.· It was nine o'clock and all the stores were shut.
starting and finishing to do the actions that will allow you to begin using a computer system, for example by typing a special word or giving a particular command: · Log on to our website and find out about the latest travel deals to the Far East.
to do the actions you have to do when you finish using a computer system: · When I logged off, the whole system froze up.
if you start up a computer, or it starts up , you turn it on: · The anti-virus icon should appear whenever you start up your computer.
if a computer boots up , it becomes ready to use by getting all the programs it needs into its memory. If you boot up a computer, you turn it on so that it is ready to use: · Just wait a couple of minutes while the computer boots up.
if you reboot a computer, or if it reboots , you make it turn itself off and then back on again, especially because it has not been working correctly: · If a program crashes you usually have to reboot the computer.
if you shut a computer down or it shuts down , you turn it off: · I'm always forgetting to shut down my computer before I go home.
the name that you type into a computer, system, website etc. before typing your password: · Please enter your username and password.
a series of secret letters or numbers that you must type into a computer before you can use a system or a program: · Don't let anyone know your password.
to not let someone enter to prevent someone from entering a place, for example by locking doors and windows, or building fences: keep out somebody: · He bought a new security system to keep out intruders.keep somebody out: · Family members can go in to visit him, but we need to keep everyone else out.keep somebody out of something: · Try to keep Ed out of the bedroom while I finish wrapping his present.
to shut a door, window etc in order to prevent someone from entering, especially because they would be interrupting you or annoying you: shut out somebody: · He slammed the door, shutting out the dogs.shut somebody out (of something): · John shut everybody out of the kitchen so that he could prepare his grand surprise.
to stop someone from entering a place by locking a door: lock somebody out/lock out somebody: · Her husband threw her out of the trailer without shoes or clothes and locked her out.lock somebody out of something: · I can't believe I locked myself out of the house again.
to refuse to allow someone to enter a country or a public place: refuse somebody entry: · Immigration officials refused her entry because they thought she was planning to stay.refuse entry to somebody: · The management reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who is improperly dressed.
to refuse to let someone into a place where a public event is happening, especially because it is full: turn somebody away/turn away somebody: · Hundreds of disappointed fans were turned away at the gates.· The club's so popular, we have to turn people away every night.
to officially forbid someone from entering a building or area, especially because they have caused trouble or because it is dangerous for them to go there: · The tavern banned Ted for starting a fight.bar/ban somebody from something: · We've had to bar visitors from the garden because some of the pathways aren't safe.bar/ban somebody for life (=forbidden from entering for the rest of your life): · After the incident at the country club, Chuck was banned for life.
to ignore something bad, even though you know it is wrong to ignore something wrong that someone has done, especially because it is unimportant: · I'll overlook your mistake this time.· Mrs Johnson tends to overlook any small faults the girls may have.· Although this is a first offence it cannot be overlooked.
to decide not to punish or criticize someone for doing something wrong, although you might do so if they do it again: · I think they've broken the rules, but I'll let it pass.· Howard had insulted her, but she thought it better to let it pass this time.
if someone in authority turns a blind eye to illegal activity or bad behaviour, they ignore it and pretend they do not know about it: · If my sister did something wrong my mother always turned a blind eye.· The guards turned a blind eye when the prisoners stole food from the kitchen.turn a blind eye to: · The President could no longer turn a blind eye to the indiscretions of his Chief of Staff.
to ignore something and pretend it does not exist because it is unpleasant or difficult to deal with: · The officials in charge of the Chernobyl power station had shut their eyes to the danger.· Of course, it is tempting to criticize other countries and close your eyes to all the problems of your own society.
to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will stop if you try not to think about it: · You'll never solve your problems if you just bury your head in the sand -- you have to face them.
to force someone to stay in a place as a prisoner to force someone to stay in a place, as if they were a prisoner: · West had abducted the young girl and kept her in his basement for 10 days.keep somebody prisoner: · Police think that the woman may have been kept prisoner for the twenty four hours before she was murdered.
if an enemy or group of criminals takes someone hostage , they keep that person as a prisoner, and threaten to kill or injure them unless they get what they want: · The government is concerned that British troops might be taken hostage by guerrillas.· A band of human rights activists stormed the embassy and took several people hostage.
to keep someone in a place and not allow them to leave - used especially in news reports: · Police are holding two men in connection with the robbery.hold somebody prisoner/hostage/captive: · Several tourists were being held captive by rebels in Kashmir.· Militant prisoners held 24 guards hostage on Friday, as jail unrest spread throughout the country.
to make someone stay in a very small place, with the result that their freedom or movements are restricted: confine somebody to something: · The judge has confined the jury to their hotel until after the verdict.· All the illegal immigrants were confined to a small island in the harbour.be confined in: · Brett was eventually confined in a psychiatric hospital, where he committed suicide.
informal to put or keep someone in a place so that they are no longer free: shut somebody up: · According to the legend, Acrisius built an underground house for his daughter. Here he shut her up and guarded her.· The lawyer claimed that his client had been shut up in a prison cell for hours, when there was no legal reason to keep him.
to make someone or something quieter British /quiet somebody down American to make someone quieter and calmer, when they are making a lot of noise because they are angry, excited, or upset: · I spent half the lesson trying to quieten them down.· Sue managed to quiet them both down and eventually stopped the argument.
especially written to make someone suddenly stop speaking: · I opened my mouth to speak but she silenced me with an angry look.· Partick was livid, but Jane squeezed his arm to silence him.
to make someone, especially a child, make less noise or make no noise at all, especially by telling them in a quiet voice to stop talking or crying: · I turned to Margaret but was hushed before I could open my mouth.· David hushed me. "Sh-h-h. You're not allowed to speak in here.''· She gave up trying to hush the baby and took him outside.
if something muffles a sound it makes it quieter and less clear: · The snow muffled the sound of the traffic.· He dragged her into the car, putting his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams.· John's voice was muffled by the door, and I couldn't tell what he was saying.
to make a television, radio etc quieter by moving or turning a button or control: turn something/it/them down: · Do you mind turning the radio down?· Turn that music down, you'll wake the whole street!turn down something: · She turned down the volume on the TV and picked up the phone.turn something right downBritish /turn something all the way down American (=make it as quiet as possible): · No wonder you can't hear anything -- you've turned your hearing aid right down.
informal to make someone be quiet, especially by speaking to them rudely or angrily: · Can't you shut those kids up?· The only way to shut her up is to give her something to eat.
to switch something off to make something stop working, for example by pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, for example, lights, televisions, or computers: switch off something: · Always switch off your computer when you've finished.switch something off: · It's OK - I switched the TV off before I went out.
to make something stop working, for example by pressing a button or turning a tap - use this about things that use electricity, gas, or water: turn off something: · Would you turn off the heater before you go to bed?turn something off: · You forgot to turn the oven off!
to make an engine or a machine stop working: · George stopped the engine and got out of the car.· We had to stop the pump and unblock it.
to press a button that makes a machine stop: · If you want it to stop, just press the red button.
to switch a light off: put out something: · Norma put out the light and went to sleep.put something out: · Could you put the lamp out in the bedroom, please?
to make a light stop working by pressing a button: · Don't forget to turn out the lights when you go to bed, okay Annie?
if you shut off or shut down a machine, you make it stop operating: · The computer automatically shuts off the pump when no water is flowing.· The Department of Energy shut down the reactor because of safety considerations.
to remove the thing that connects a piece of electrical equipment to the main electricity supply, so that it is no longer connected to it: · Did you remember to unplug the kettle?· I was getting a lot of crank calls, so I started unplugging my phone at night.
formal to separate a piece of equipment from the main electricity or gas supply so that it is no longer connected to it: · Once a car has started, the engine would continue to run even if you disconnected the battery.
when a machine, light etc switches on or off automatically if a machine, light etc comes or goes on, it starts working, especially because you have set a time for it to start - use this about things that use electricity, gas, or water: · The heating comes on automatically.· Every so often, our TV just goes on by itself.
if a machine, light etc switches on , it starts working - use this about things that use electricity: · Clap your hands twice, and the light switches on.switch/turn itself on: · Water softening systems turn themselves on at night to clean the system.
if a light goes out , it stops shining, for example because it is broken or because there is no electricity : · Suddenly all the lights went out.· The street lights have a light sensor that makes them automatically go out at dawn.
if a machine, light etc goes off , it stops working - use this about things that use electricity, water, or gas: · The heating goes off at 10:30.· After the 30-car train passed, the flashing red lights went off and the arms blocking traffic went up.
if a machine shuts off or shuts down , it stops operating: · The pump automatically shuts down when no water is flowing.shut itself off/down: · Something caused the computer to switch itself off.
if a machine, light etc switches or turns off , it stops working - use this about things that use electricity: · The bulb inside the refrigerator switches off when you close the door.switch/turn itself off: · If an automatic can opener fails to turn itself off, food is probably jamming the cutter.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
She lay down on her bed and shut her eyes. Jenny closed her eyes and tried to shut everything out.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The window banged shut. A sudden draught blew the door shut. Creed opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut. Jean told him to shut his gob. She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. We’d better get some shut-eye. He slammed the door shut. She snapped her briefcase shut. The gate sprang shut behind them. The heavy door swung shut. I kept my eyes tight shut. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
She lay down on her bed and shut her eyes. Jenny closed her eyes and tried to shut everything out. The window banged shut. A sudden draught blew the door shut. Creed opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut. (=open with a short hard sound)· I heard the gate at the front of the house click open.
· The front door shut with a click.
(=close the programs and stop it working)
· I opened the door and Dad was standing there.· Can you close the door as you go out?
· We were still waiting for the train doors to open.
(=shuts loudly)· I heard the front door slam.
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=moves smoothly to the side or back again)· The lift doors slid open and we got in.
· She shut the drawer and locked it with a small key.
· Joe closed his eyes and tried to get back to sleep.
· The factory was closed down in 2006.
· Please close the gate.
Jean told him to shut his gob.· He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.
She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. We’d better get some shut-eye. He slammed the door shut. She snapped her briefcase shut. The gate sprang shut behind them. The heavy door swung shut. I kept my eyes tight shut.· She shut the window firmly.
· All the windows were closed.
Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).· London compared to Paris and New York: everything shut away.· The sleds stayed in garages, the biscuit pans shut away in cupboards.· Too shut away for me, too uninspiring, this work bored me.· It brought back the long months of bitterness and loneliness she had suffered, shut away on her father's estate.· It would be a bit tricky for the count to keep her shut away if they were staying with him.· A lot of people are classed as mad and shut away without any need.
· It will be constantly monitored and if conditions change too quickly it will automatically shut down.· We stayed strapped in our seats with the Hueys shut down.· This mode is attained by shutting down the eyelids.· Emergencies were declared in six states as airports were shut down, stranding travelers across the country.· One of the worst offenders, the Polam lighting factory at Rzeszow, has already been shut down.· I started to tell him, but everything in my mind shut down.· Can Making Belfast Work be improved or should it be shut down to make way for alternative policies?· You can keep the factory shut down and unproductive, or you can clear it out and get to work.
· But the idea was rejected, because it would have shut off supplies to the refugees.· The layer contains enough dust to shut off sunlight from the surface of the planet for several months to a year.· Derek and I drove down there and shut off the whole barn, preventing all means of getting in or out.· A large delivery van was almost blocking the narrow street, its high sides nearly shutting off the daylight from her windows.· Virginia and Peter Stillman were shut off from him now.· The result amazed them: the Il-4 killed the mice by shutting off a vital part of their immune system.· And the great Tretyakov art gallery may have its utilities shut off for nonpayment of bills.
· I want to shut out the noise.· To be shut out at home in two of the last four games is very weird and totally unexpected.· I was learning to shut out the daily discomforts, however, either by looking around, or by playing mental games.· Shall I ever be able to shut out the sight and the sound?· The doors moved towards each other, shutting out the stars.· It was as if some one had shut out all the sound in the world.
· She lay with her eyes tight shut and her mind held to a determined blank.· The doors leading into the halls of real political and economic power and influence were still shut tight against us.· He was sitting on the floor among the cracker wrappings and the crumbs, his shoulders shaking, his eyes tight shut.· Lily froze underneath him, her eyes tight shut.· They were shut tight, without a crack to see through.· She screwed her eyes tight shut, trying to forget the images of last night.· And still, the public schools are shut tight.
· In the hottest months these curtains would be tightly shut in one more effort to get away from the heat and glare.· Above, its transom is covered with plywood and nailed tightly shut.· Hari sighed and, pressing her eyes tightly shut, felt unequal to the task before her.· Squeezing her eyes so tightly shut that they looked like senile lips, Mary began to gabble.· She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, feeling the sting of tears behind her eyelids.
· Even with Emily I didn't shut up, and we have always had the capacity for shutting up.· It is time to put up or shut up.· Mr Washington mumbled something about telling her to shut up.· Sometimes, though, we can be so afraid of what other people think that we shut up rather than speak up.· When the Maggot became too boring about football I told him cricketing stories until he shut up.
NOUN· The front door shut with a click.· It shut with a satisfying click.
· The doors are shut, but not locked.· The front door shut with its usual clatter.· I hauled the door shut behind me, in time to see the office door opening.· I said, slamming the door shut.· Jamie backed away, laughing, and slammed the door shut behind him.· The van doors were shut and locked, and it took off.· There were steps leading out of it and at the top a door three quarters shut.· The office door banged shut and the Monsignor groaned.
· She was on call to open and shut the gates at any hour, in any weather.· Water managers have already shut a gate north of the crash site to reduce the southerly flow of water.· He shut the gate behind Willie and the wetness from the top splashed into his face.· If it shut the gate at night, the traffic would cease.· He shut the gate then just ran straight out on to the road.· But the town remained steadfastly loyal to the Old King and shut its gates against him.· Others were fighting to shut the gate, pushing against the sheer bodyweight of the beasts in the gateway.· She glanced back as she shut the gate behind her.
· She shut her mind from any thoughts of what it all meant.· I took my revenge by shutting him out of mind.· She lay with her eyes tight shut and her mind held to a determined blank.· I shut my mind to the consequences, positioned my hands, and pushed.· After that she shut him out of her mind once again.· She closed her eyes, as if by doing so she could shut him out of her mind.· Then I shut my mind to the picture that her words had conjured, for after all - what did it matter?· Lorton shut his mind to that.
· I don't believe she could keep her mouth shut.· To make matters worse, I had to keep my mouth shut whenever he was around.· She opened her mouth and shut it.· With her mouth shut her face seemed to shrink.· His mouth kept opening and shutting as if he was trying to say something.· For one, a mistress who kept her mouth shut.· This is all from Gran so keep your mouth shut.· If I would only keep my mouth shut more often, I thought, I would fit in better everywhere.
· Ford shut down some plants for a two-week period.· We did this or we shut down and if they wanted the latter we should shut down our plants immediately.· National groups could only find outlets for their own beer by acquiring smaller companies and shutting down their brewing plant.· A company statement that these might shut down plants implies that their polluting operations would otherwise continue.· The fire, apparently caused by a short circuit, triggered an automatic safety system that shut down the plant.
· It's not like being on shore where once the patients are gone you shut up shop and go home.· But as shopping habits changed many traders shut up shop and moved out blaming recession, traffic restrictions and fewer bus routes.· Keith Rodwell, Ipswich Witches' commercial manager, shuts up shop after last night's match with Wolverhampton was rained off.· Time to shut up shop and get to know each other again.· We might just as well shut up shop.· They need ways of shutting up shop, or at least of enduring, when conditions are simply impossible.· I think we should shut up shop, if you don't mind.
· Usually Gloria told her to shut her trap.· He didn't annoy her and she shut her almighty trap.
· He drove with the windows shut.· Most of the doors and windows are shut to keep out the heat; outside, the heat is alive.· He nods at us through the car window, then snaps shut the central-locking, making himself secure.· The room was cold, the windows froze shut.· The window is welded shut which is just as well.· The windows were now nailed shut and draped.· They also had to keep windows shut during services and soundproof the room.· He pulled the window shut behind him and it closed with a click, the lock falling firmly back in place.
VERB· He opened and shut the drawers and the flap and found what he expected.· It has a thickly soft, two-beat thud, like the sound of a heavy door being repeatedly opened and shut.· She opened her mouth and shut it.· You know how to keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.· She was on call to open and shut the gates at any hour, in any weather.· George climbed over the gate while Willie opened and shut it neatly behind him.· It opened, then swung shut.
· Usually Gloria told her to shut her trap.· I wanted to scream, to tell the kid5 to shut their mouths and go to hell.· I just tell him to shut up and give him a sharp rap across the knuckles.· There would be others to choose from, I told myself, shutting the door once again to my first big love.· I just don't like being told to shut up!· I told him to shut up and I seized the door handle and gave it a good tug.· Just tell me to shut up any time you like.· Need to return to the office? Tell him to shut it off again.
· When I come back Mr Jackson is trying to shut my suitcase.· Before the film was released, Hearst tried to have it shut down.· He leaned on his bedroom door, as if trying to shut out the world.· I tried to shut the door quietly.· I tried to shut out these abominations and concentrate on Marine One seat assignments.· He just tries to shut you down.· Jerome would open his mouth and Mr Washington would try to shut it for him.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► shut somebody ↔ down► shut something ↔ off► shut your mouth/face/trap!► shut somebody out► shut somebody/something ↔ out► shut something ↔ out► shut out somebody► shut something in the door/drawer etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► can do something with your eyes shut/closed► put up or shut up► shut/close the stable door after the horse has bolted► shut your trap!► wedge something open/shut
1[intransitive, transitive] to close something, or to become closed: - She shut herself away in her room to work on her novel.
- Adolph wouldn't want you shutting yourself away.
- And others were so deeply affected that they withdrew from the community, shutting themselves away in their homes.
- From there he moved on to Edinburgh, and finally shut himself away in his much embellished palace of Falkland to die.
- Not a good idea to shut yourself away like this once you got a bit older, thought Meredith.
- She should never have shut herself away in that dreadful place.
- You could shut yourself away in this garret all day and never come down.
- Before every game, he shuts himself in his office for an hour and pores over the scouting reports.
- Finally she shut herself in the attic room on Ella's day off and sobbed until she ached in body and soul.
- Fuming, Christopher shut himself in the house.
- Saturday I went again, but she shut herself in her room.
- She shut herself in out of the drizzling rain, and expressed her delight with everything.
- She took one out and carried it up to her bedroom and shut herself in.
- She took the report, told them all where to find her if necessary and shut herself in her office.
- So Ellie darted back to her room, and shut herself in, her heart pounding.
- He shuts himself off from his two young daughters and composes laments to his dead wife.
- I shut myself off from the female race and channelled all my energy into my work.
- Students who avoid learning even the basics can shut themselves off from important sources in the field.
- These people are completely shut off from the rest of society.
- Virginia and Peter Stillman were shut off from him now.
- Just shut up, you two!
- Goddamn it, Eustis, can you just for once in your empty-headed, godforsaken life shut yourself up!
- He shut himself up in his palace and let matters go as they would.
- He claims it was a mole but I know it was him - what can I do to shut him up?
- I want to shut them up about the pound-for-pound thing.
- It goes on-this urge to shut people up.
- Parker punched his head to shut him up.
- The biggest appetite I had was for words, and these guys shut me up entirely.
- Unsettled by the riddle, Mungo finally decided that Jos had probably shut him up just to get some peace.
- Can't you shut those kids up?
- The only way to shut her up is to give her something to eat.
- Goddamn it, Eustis, can you just for once in your empty-headed, godforsaken life shut yourself up!
- He shut himself up in his palace and let matters go as they would.
- He claims it was a mole but I know it was him - what can I do to shut him up?
- I want to shut them up about the pound-for-pound thing.
- It goes on-this urge to shut people up.
- Parker punched his head to shut him up.
- The biggest appetite I had was for words, and these guys shut me up entirely.
- Unsettled by the riddle, Mungo finally decided that Jos had probably shut him up just to get some peace.
- Goddamn it, Eustis, can you just for once in your empty-headed, godforsaken life shut yourself up!
- He shut himself up in his palace and let matters go as they would.
- He claims it was a mole but I know it was him - what can I do to shut him up?
- I want to shut them up about the pound-for-pound thing.
- It goes on-this urge to shut people up.
- Parker punched his head to shut him up.
- The biggest appetite I had was for words, and these guys shut me up entirely.
- Unsettled by the riddle, Mungo finally decided that Jos had probably shut him up just to get some peace.
- But as shopping habits changed many traders shut up shop and moved out blaming recession, traffic restrictions and fewer bus routes.
- I think we should shut up shop, if you don't mind.
- It's not like being on shore where once the patients are gone you shut up shop and go home.
- Keith Rodwell, Ipswich Witches' commercial manager, shuts up shop after last night's match with Wolverhampton was rained off.
- They need ways of shutting up shop, or at least of enduring, when conditions are simply impossible.
- Time to shut up shop and get to know each other again.
- We might just as well shut up shop.
- We must not shut our ears to the voices of suffering people.
- Claudia sank down on to her bed and tried to shut her ears to the sound of him in the next room.
- Rincewind tried to shut his ears to the grating voice beside him.
- She shut her eyes against it all; shut her eyes to open them again on to the harmless horizon.
- She shut her eyes to shut everything out.
- She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
- Sometimes she even managed to shut her ears to the arguments going on around her.
- They could not shut their eyes to the ugly and degrading side of wine-drinking and see only the delightful side.
- Come in, lads, come in and shut the door on the fog.
- Even so, Wickham was not ready to shut the door on the possibility.
- Everyone has been going for national contracts and that has shut the door on the small company.
- It watched her, unwinking, until she reached the room behind the shop and shut the door on its crimson gaze.
- Madeleine grimaced after she'd shut the door on him.
- A loss in this election will not necessarily close the door on the campaign.
- Come in, lads, come in and shut the door on the fog.
- Even so, Wickham was not ready to shut the door on the possibility.
- Imagine asking that they close the door on me so I can see what it feels like.
- It watched her, unwinking, until she reached the room behind the shop and shut the door on its crimson gaze.
- Lucker murmurs something to Jasper and leads him away closing the door on me.
- She closed the door on them.
- The previous owner had used a bathroom off one of the bedrooms as storage and simply closed the door on it.
- At first, I closed my ears to what I did not want to hear.
- Claudia sank down on to her bed and tried to shut her ears to the sound of him in the next room.
- Don't close your ears to the world and don't give up.
- He tried to close his ears to the plea.
- Rincewind tried to shut his ears to the grating voice beside him.
- She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
- She wanted to close her ears to it.
- Sometimes she even managed to shut her ears to the arguments going on around her.
- We can't close our eyes to the fact that our town has a gang problem.
- I've closed my eyes to your activities long enough.
- If we must sometimes close our eyes to open them in the myth dimension, so be it.
- On a sob Ruth swallowed hard and closed her eyes to the burning sun overhead.
- On the other hand the very same development increases their tendency to close their eyes to the future.
- Prayer May we never become so worldly that we close our eyes to the miracle and mystery of life.
- The need to push came again, and Jane closed her eyes to concentrate.
- They could not shut their eyes to the ugly and degrading side of wine-drinking and see only the delightful side.
- Turning off the light, she slid back under the covers and closed her eyes to sleep fitfully until noon.
- He just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.
- You'd better keep your mouth shut about this.
- After the incident Ninham, of Hilda Street, gave both boys £5 and told them to keep their mouths shut.
- For one, a mistress who kept her mouth shut.
- I don't believe she could keep her mouth shut.
- If I would only keep my mouth shut more often, I thought, I would fit in better everywhere.
- In the end, I kept my mouth shut.
- It would be best to keep our mouths shut and let justice take its course.
- This is all from Gran so keep your mouth shut.
- You want to be off the record, keep your mouth shut.
- But as shopping habits changed many traders shut up shop and moved out blaming recession, traffic restrictions and fewer bus routes.
- I think we should shut up shop, if you don't mind.
- It's not like being on shore where once the patients are gone you shut up shop and go home.
- Keith Rodwell, Ipswich Witches' commercial manager, shuts up shop after last night's match with Wolverhampton was rained off.
- They need ways of shutting up shop, or at least of enduring, when conditions are simply impossible.
- Time to shut up shop and get to know each other again.
- We might just as well shut up shop.
- He squeezed his eyes shut and swore silently to give himself courage.
- Isabel squeezed her eyes shut for a second.
- Just in case, he also crossed his legs and squeezed his eyes shut.
- She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists tight.
- She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, feeling the sting of tears behind her eyelids.
- Shiona gripped the steering-wheel and squeezed her eyes shut and slowly counted up to ten.
- The boy squeezed his eyes shut and stopped moving.
- With a groan she squeezed her eyes shut.
- Tell him to keep his trap shut and let me ask the questions.
Shut the window, Ellen! I heard his bedroom door shut. She lay down on her bed and shut her eyes.shut (something) behind somebody She walked quickly in and shut the door behind her. He shut the drawer and turned the key.► see thesaurus at close2shut your mouth/face/trap! (also shut your gob!/shut it! British English) spoken not polite used to tell someone to stop talking3[intransitive, transitive] British English to stop being open to the public for a short time or permanently SYN close: The post office shuts at 5 o'clock. At midday we shut the shop for lunch. He lost his job when they shut the factory.4shut your eyes/ears to something to deliberately refuse to notice or pay attention to something: We ought not to shut our eyes to these facts. She heard the boys shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.5shut something in the door/drawer etc British English, shut the door/drawer etc on something American English to shut a door etc against something so that it gets trapped there: I shut my finger in the back door yesterday and it still hurts.shut somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb1to put someone or something in a place away from other people where they cannot be seen: A lot of people are classed as mad and shut away unnecessarily.2shut yourself away to deliberately avoid seeing people by staying at home or going to a quiet place, especially because you are very unhappy or want to study, write etc: When news came of Robin’s death, she shut herself away and saw no one.shut away in She shut herself away in her room to work on her novel.shut down phrasal verb1if a company, factory, large machine etc shuts down or is shut down, it stops operating, either permanently or for a short time: Our local hardware shop has shut down.shut something ↔ down an accident which resulted in two of the plant’s nuclear reactors being shut down The way to shut the machine down is to type EXIT.2shut somebody ↔ down informal to prevent an opposing team or player from playing well or getting points: We all knew that to win we’d have to shut down Bobby Mitchell.shut somebody in (something) phrasal verb1if you shut someone in a room, you close the door and stop them from getting out: Her parents shut her in an upstairs room. He pushed the dogs into the breakfast room and shut them in.2shut yourself in (something) if you shut yourself in a room, you close the door and stay in there, and often stop other people from coming in: Ellie darted back to her room and shut herself in. He shut himself in his room and wrote letters.shut off phrasal verb1if a machine, tool etc shuts off or if you shut it off, it stops operating SYN turn off: The iron shuts off automatically if it gets too hot.shut something ↔ off I let the engine run for a minute and then shut it off. Don’t forget to shut off the water supply.2 shut something ↔ off to prevent goods or supplies from being available or being delivered: a strike that closed the mines and shut off coal supplies3shut yourself off to avoid meeting and talking to other peopleshut off from He was cold and remote, shutting himself off from her completely.4be shut off from somebody/something to be separated from other people or things, especially so that you are not influenced by them: The valley is shut off from the modern world.shut out phrasal verb1 shut somebody out to deliberately not let someone join you in an activity or share your thoughts and feelings: How can I help you if you just keep shutting me out all the time?shut out from I felt I was being shut out from all the family’s affairs.2 shut somebody/something ↔ out to prevent someone or something from entering a place: heavy curtains that shut out the sunlightshut out from The door closed firmly, shutting me out from the warmth inside.3 shut something ↔ out to stop yourself from thinking about or noticing something, so that you are not affected by it: People close their windows at night in a vain attempt to shut out the sound of gunfire. She shut out memories of James. Jenny closed her eyes and tried to shut everything out.4shut out somebody American English to defeat an opposing sports team and prevent them from getting any points: Colorado shut out Kansas City 3–0.shut up phrasal verb1shut up! spoken not polite used to tell someone to stop talking SYN be quiet!: Oh, shut up! I don’t want to hear your excuses. Just shut up and listen.shut up about Shut up about your stupid dog, okay!2shut (somebody) up informal to stop talking or be quiet, or to make someone do this: I can’t stand that woman. She never shuts up.shut up about I wish you’d shut up about Chris. I only said that to shut her up.3 shut somebody up to keep someone in a place away from other people, and prevent them from leavingshut up in I’ve had a terrible cold and been shut up in my room for a week. Was there any need to keep us shut up here?4 shut something ↔ up to close a shop, room etc so that people cannot get into it: Bernadette cleaned the attic and then shut it up for another year.5shut up shop British English informal to close a business or stop working, at the end of the day or permanentlyshut1 verbshut2 adjective
shutshut2 ●●● S3 adjective [not before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He sat with his eyes tightly shut.
- Cameron was staring at the shut door.
- Her eyes kept flickering shut, though, and they finally stayed closed as she gently snoozed.
- I heard a car pull up in front of the apartment and heard the door slam shut.
- She gives this a silken hinge and attaches gravel to its underside so that it will fall shut under its own weight.
- She was snapped out of her reverie as the door clicked shut and the secretary left them alone again.
- The door slammed shut and he bolted it.
- The doors slammed shut and the grey van drove off towards the exit, rejoining the northward rush of motorway traffic.
- Then the door slammed shut and next moment she was asleep.
Longman Language Activatorto close a door, window, gate etc
to move a door, window, gate etc so that it is no longer open: · Come in and shut the door behind you.· Someone had shut the gate to stop the sheep getting out onto the road.· She heard Charlotte downstairs shutting the windows, and locking up for the night.
to shut something, especially in a careful way: · Do you mind if I close the window?· She took the necklace out of the box and closed the lid.
to shut a door quickly so that it makes a loud noise, especially because you are angry: · Jane marched out of the room slamming the door behind her.· He slammed the door so hard that the glass cracked.
to push, kick, slide etc something so that it shuts: · The woman pushed the door shut with her foot.· It started raining, so I quickly pulled the window shut.· "Sorry, we're closed,'' said the official, sliding the wooden panel shut.
to move a door so that it is almost shut: · "Tell me what's wrong,'' I said, pulling the door to.· She pushed the door to against the blinding sunlight.
to close curtains by pulling them across a window: · Let's draw the curtains. We don't want people looking in.· The curtains were closed and the room was in darkness.
to close a container to close a container, such as a box, case, or bottle: · As the teacher appeared, Matt shut the box quickly.· Russell shut his briefcase with a snap, and the meeting was over.· Put lids on all the jars and close them tightly.
to shut a container such as a bottle or box by putting a lid onto it: · Put the lid on the cookie jar when you've finished with it!· If you leave cooked food in a pan, you should always put the lid on.
to shut a container such as a bottle by putting the lid on and turning it round and round until it cannot be turned any more: screw on something: · I screwed on the top of the bottle as tightly as I could.screw something back on: · The fuel tank cap hadn't been screwed back on properly, and it came off when I drove away.screw something on: · She screwed the lid of the jar on again.
to close your eyes/mouth to close your eyes or mouth: · I lay down and closed my eyes.· He shut his eyes and listened to the music.· Lara opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.
to become shut to become shut: · He walked out and the door shut behind him.· There was a bang as the gates shut.· Her eyes closed, and she fell into a deep sleep.
also slam shut if a door slams or slams shut , it shuts quickly and makes a loud noise: · Outside in the street, car doors slammed and people were shouting.· She heard a door slam shut and the sound of footsteps on the path.
if a door, window, gate etc slides , blows , swings etc shut , it shuts by sliding, being blown, swinging etc: · The window suddenly blew shut, with a loud bang.· The elevator doors silently slid shut.
to shut something so that it cannot be opened to shut something such as a door, window, or box by turning a key in a lock: · As she left the house she locked the door.· Don't forget to lock the car.· He locked the safe and put the key in his pocket.
to lock something such as a vehicle or a building: lock up something: · I had locked up my office for the night and gone home.· He always keeps his desk locked up.lock something up: · You should take basic precautions like locking your car up.
to shut a door by sliding a small metal bar across both the door and its frame so that it cannot be opened from the other side: · My husband always bolts all the doors before going to bed.
to shut a door or window and put a bar , a piece of wood, etc across it so that people cannot get in or out: · The owner of the house had barred the back door.· Some of the survivors said that one of the fire exits had been barred.
to prevent someone from entering a room or building by locking the door: · If she wasn't home by midnight her father would lock her out.lock yourself out (=not be able to get back into a place you have locked): · We always leave a key with a neighbour in case we lock ourselves out.
to close an entrance or opening to put something into a hole or entrance so that it is permanently closed: block something up: · Martha tried to block the mouse holes up, but new ones kept appearing.block up something: · Some of the windows in the church had been blocked up.· He blocked up the entrance to the tunnel with stones.
to put something into a hole in order to stop a liquid from getting through: · We tried to plug the hole in the bottom of the boat with a plastic bag.· They didn't have enough material to plug up the gaps around the pipe.
to close an entrance or container with something that completely prevents air or water from getting in or out: · If you seal the jars well, the jam will keep for months or even years.· In this experiment, the chamber must be completely sealed.
when a door, entrance, lid etc has been shut not open: · Make sure all the windows are shut before you go out.· The gates were closed, and there was no other way in.tight shut: · Keep your eyes tight shut.
something that is locked has been shut using a key: · Jamie tried the door. "It's locked,'' he said.· All office workers should keep their personal belongings in a locked drawer.· I need my coat out of your car -- is it locked?
a door that is bolted has been shut by using a metal bar that slides across and prevents the door from being opened from the other side: · The door's bolted, we'll have to break it down.· Burglars can always find a way in, in spite of bolted doors and windows.
shut with something that prevents air or water from getting in or out: · Plants cannot survive in a sealed jar.· Sealed nuclear waste containers are then enclosed in concrete.
when a shop or office is closed also shut British if a shop or office shuts or closes , it stops being open for business: · "What time does the bank shut?" "Four o'clock."· Most of the stores close at 6:30.
also be shut if a shop or office is shut or is closed , it is not open for business: · The ticket office was closed.· It was nine o'clock and all the stores were shut.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs The window banged shut. A sudden draught blew the door shut. Creed opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut. Jean told him to shut his gob. She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. We’d better get some shut-eye. He slammed the door shut. She snapped her briefcase shut. The gate sprang shut behind them. The heavy door swung shut. I kept my eyes tight shut. Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).
· He went on sobbing, his eyes tight shut.
· The door remained firmly shut.
verbs· The front door slammed shut.
· The gate swung shut behind her.
· He pulled the trapdoor shut over his head.
· When it’s so hot, we keep the doors and windows shut and put on the air conditioner.
(=shut your eyes tight)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The window banged shut. A sudden draught blew the door shut. Creed opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut. (=open with a short hard sound)· I heard the gate at the front of the house click open.
· The front door shut with a click.
(=close the programs and stop it working)
· I opened the door and Dad was standing there.· Can you close the door as you go out?
· We were still waiting for the train doors to open.
(=shuts loudly)· I heard the front door slam.
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=moves smoothly to the side or back again)· The lift doors slid open and we got in.
· She shut the drawer and locked it with a small key.
· Joe closed his eyes and tried to get back to sleep.
· The factory was closed down in 2006.
· Please close the gate.
Jean told him to shut his gob.· He opened his mouth wide so the doctor could examine his throat.
She pulled open the door and hurried inside. I slowly pushed the door open. We’d better get some shut-eye. He slammed the door shut. She snapped her briefcase shut. The gate sprang shut behind them. The heavy door swung shut. I kept my eyes tight shut.· She shut the window firmly.
· All the windows were closed.
Olsen zipped the bag shut. He zipped open the case (=unfastened it).PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► can do something with your eyes shut/closed► put up or shut up► shut/close the stable door after the horse has bolted► shut your trap!► wedge something open/shut
1not open SYN closed: - A loss in this election will not necessarily close the door on the campaign.
- Come in, lads, come in and shut the door on the fog.
- Even so, Wickham was not ready to shut the door on the possibility.
- Imagine asking that they close the door on me so I can see what it feels like.
- It watched her, unwinking, until she reached the room behind the shop and shut the door on its crimson gaze.
- Lucker murmurs something to Jasper and leads him away closing the door on me.
- She closed the door on them.
- The previous owner had used a bathroom off one of the bedrooms as storage and simply closed the door on it.
- At first, I closed my ears to what I did not want to hear.
- Claudia sank down on to her bed and tried to shut her ears to the sound of him in the next room.
- Don't close your ears to the world and don't give up.
- He tried to close his ears to the plea.
- Rincewind tried to shut his ears to the grating voice beside him.
- She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
- She wanted to close her ears to it.
- Sometimes she even managed to shut her ears to the arguments going on around her.
- We can't close our eyes to the fact that our town has a gang problem.
- I've closed my eyes to your activities long enough.
- If we must sometimes close our eyes to open them in the myth dimension, so be it.
- On a sob Ruth swallowed hard and closed her eyes to the burning sun overhead.
- On the other hand the very same development increases their tendency to close their eyes to the future.
- Prayer May we never become so worldly that we close our eyes to the miracle and mystery of life.
- The need to push came again, and Jane closed her eyes to concentrate.
- They could not shut their eyes to the ugly and degrading side of wine-drinking and see only the delightful side.
- Turning off the light, she slid back under the covers and closed her eyes to sleep fitfully until noon.
- He just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.
- You'd better keep your mouth shut about this.
- After the incident Ninham, of Hilda Street, gave both boys £5 and told them to keep their mouths shut.
- For one, a mistress who kept her mouth shut.
- I don't believe she could keep her mouth shut.
- If I would only keep my mouth shut more often, I thought, I would fit in better everywhere.
- In the end, I kept my mouth shut.
- It would be best to keep our mouths shut and let justice take its course.
- This is all from Gran so keep your mouth shut.
- You want to be off the record, keep your mouth shut.
- But as shopping habits changed many traders shut up shop and moved out blaming recession, traffic restrictions and fewer bus routes.
- I think we should shut up shop, if you don't mind.
- It's not like being on shore where once the patients are gone you shut up shop and go home.
- Keith Rodwell, Ipswich Witches' commercial manager, shuts up shop after last night's match with Wolverhampton was rained off.
- They need ways of shutting up shop, or at least of enduring, when conditions are simply impossible.
- Time to shut up shop and get to know each other again.
- We might just as well shut up shop.
- He squeezed his eyes shut and swore silently to give himself courage.
- Isabel squeezed her eyes shut for a second.
- Just in case, he also crossed his legs and squeezed his eyes shut.
- She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists tight.
- She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, feeling the sting of tears behind her eyelids.
- Shiona gripped the steering-wheel and squeezed her eyes shut and slowly counted up to ten.
- The boy squeezed his eyes shut and stopped moving.
- With a groan she squeezed her eyes shut.
- Tell him to keep his trap shut and let me ask the questions.
Is the door shut properly? She kept the windows shut, for fear of burglars. He sat with his eyes shut. The windows were tightly shut.slam/bang/swing etc shut The door slammed shut behind him.pull/kick/slam etc something shut Jenny pulled the window shut. → keep your mouth shut at keep1(2)2British English if a shop, bar etc is shut, it is not open for business SYN closed: in the evening when the shops are shut Sorry, but we’re shut.shut for The first four hotels we tried were shut for the winter.COLLOCATIONSadverbstightly/tight shut· He went on sobbing, his eyes tight shut.firmly shut· The door remained firmly shut.verbssomething slams/bangs shut· The front door slammed shut.something swings shut· The gate swung shut behind her.pull/kick/slam something shut· He pulled the trapdoor shut over his head.keep something shut· When it’s so hot, we keep the doors and windows shut and put on the air conditioner.screw/squeeze your eyes shut (=shut your eyes tight)