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)
Ryan Coleman September 2, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Since that peak, CoreWeave’s stock price has steadily dropped, in part because of the end of the lockup period that allowed early investors to sell their shares.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Some private equity or real estate vehicles require multiyear lockups.
—Gregory Clifford, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Christopher Gibson accused officers of shocking him with a stun gun, threatening him with a police dog and assaulting him in the city lockup.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
The Chrisley family's grand return to TV after Todd and Julie's pardon releases from prison is marred by family strife that grew during the years of lockup.
—Ryan Coleman September 2, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Since that peak, CoreWeave’s stock price has steadily dropped, in part because of the end of the lockup period that allowed early investors to sell their shares.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Some private equity or real estate vehicles require multiyear lockups.
—Gregory Clifford, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Christopher Gibson accused officers of shocking him with a stun gun, threatening him with a police dog and assaulting him in the city lockup.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
-
Prosecutors sent the Bukele government an extradition request for Melgar, who was jailed in El Salvador at the time, according to Salvadoran court records.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Dubov was part of Convers Sports Initiatives, alongside Vladimir Antonov, a Russian businessman later jailed for his role in a multi-million-dollar bank fraud.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The story would feature voluminous evidence, including Salvadoran intelligence reports, government documents and even prison logs recording the visits of Luna and other Bukele aides to MS-13 leaders.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Both Menendez brothers remain in prison after having been denied parole in August of this year, and, in September, a judge denied their petition for a new trial.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bukele’s administration asked for the return to El Salvador of some of the MS-13 gang leaders who had been arrested in Mexico and imprisoned in the United States.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Reports suggest that in some cases, the prisoners are still alive when their organs are removed, and some of them may be imprisoned merely as a pretense to securing their organs.—
Cory Franklin,
Twin Cities,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In 2005, the penitentiary was downgraded to medium security, and its name changed to the Federal Correctional Institution.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Arcángela and Serafina remain in the women’s penitentiary, continuing to operate illicit businesses and accumulating wealth, but without hope of freedom.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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