lock away
phrasal verb
locked away; locking away; locks away
1
: to put (something) in a locked container, place, etc.
The jewelry was locked away in a cabinet.
2
: to put (someone) in a locked place (such as a prison) for a long period of time
lock away a criminal
The state locked their sister away in a psychiatric hospital.
3
: to keep (oneself) alone in a room or place for a long period of time
He locked himself away in his room while he studied.
He was locked away in his room while he studied.
Examples of lock away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its durability is in large part due to Wilde’s sneaky indictment of the repressive culture that forced Dorian to keep his true self hidden, locked away in a closet.
—
Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Edith Hessenberger, director of the Ötztal Museums, told Austrian news outlets that evidence from the materials, locked away under the ice for 80 years, matches almost exactly with historical records from the mission.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
More than 90% of the world’s data today is video, yet most of it remains locked away– whether in Hollywood archives, sports vaults, or corporate libraries.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
The company’s Granite Bay facility has had one sustained complaint since 2022, for failing to lock away tools and products used for grooming and hygiene in their memory care unit.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock away
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Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Edith Hessenberger, director of the Ötztal Museums, told Austrian news outlets that evidence from the materials, locked away under the ice for 80 years, matches almost exactly with historical records from the mission.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
More than 90% of the world’s data today is video, yet most of it remains locked away– whether in Hollywood archives, sports vaults, or corporate libraries.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
The company’s Granite Bay facility has had one sustained complaint since 2022, for failing to lock away tools and products used for grooming and hygiene in their memory care unit.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock away
Cite this Entry
“Lock away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lock%20away. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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