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
If your phone has been locked away for the past 24 hours, the CEO of Astronomer, Andy Byron, was seen on the big screen at a Boston Coldplay concert with his arms around a woman who is not his wife.
—
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 19 July 2025
Firearms and weapons are best locked away somewhere safe where they can't be grabbed by a child or intruder.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
Up to this week, the West Nashville park had been locked away behind chain-link fencing since the start of 2023 as Metro Parks looked to complete $1.26 million in repairs and renovations.
—Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Under Democratic presidents, massive swaths of the West are being locked away from the people who live there, with no meaningful recourse.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock away
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Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 19 July 2025
Firearms and weapons are best locked away somewhere safe where they can't be grabbed by a child or intruder.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
Up to this week, the West Nashville park had been locked away behind chain-link fencing since the start of 2023 as Metro Parks looked to complete $1.26 million in repairs and renovations.
—Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Under Democratic presidents, massive swaths of the West are being locked away from the people who live there, with no meaningful recourse.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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