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
Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Brzezinski felt a personal sting of betrayal after the Yalta conference in 1945, when the Iron Curtain drew shut across Europe—with Poland on the other side.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Upon arrival, officers discovered the first floor of the house was barricaded and that all the doors were screwed shut.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Overall, Liverpool recouped $226 million from player sales and the figure could rise further if Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas are moved on before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shut
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Verb
The younger woman enters first and lies down on a towel, legs stretched long, hands by her sides, eyes shut.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Brzezinski felt a personal sting of betrayal after the Yalta conference in 1945, when the Iron Curtain drew shut across Europe—with Poland on the other side.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But the windows should stay shut if the air temperature is about 95 or above.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Upon arrival, officers discovered the first floor of the house was barricaded and that all the doors were screwed shut.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Noun
As a result of the attack, the woman had three stab wounds to her left leg, one to her right leg, fractures to her left rib and right pinky finger, bruises, trauma to her left forearm, and blunt force injuries to her head and face, leaving both eyes swollen shut, the release said.
—Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Overall, Liverpool recouped $226 million from player sales and the figure could rise further if Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas are moved on before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2025.
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