shut

1 of 3

verb

shut; shutting

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

shut

2 of 3

adjective

1
: closed, fastened, or folded together
2
: rid, clear, free
usually used with of

shut

3 of 3

noun

: the act of shutting

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The wildly popular Korean drama about a gaggle of misfits and screw-ups competing for money as well as their lives had a surprisingly great second season, with protagonist Gi-hun returning to the Games after four years to try and shut them down, only to be entangled in double-crosses and surprises. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 June 2025 Others are simply shutting themselves away from society. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Adjective
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 Windows stay shut, inhalers stay close at hand, and the clean up of black snow is nearly constant. Colin Walkes, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2025
Noun
Gently press then pull on the car door Using firm but gentle force, AAA says to push on the door, then pull if the car door is frozen shut. Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2025 Tanya has no idea where folks will go next or what’s ahead for herself and the handful of remaining employees after Olivera’s shuts. Jia H. Jung, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shut

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English shetten, shutten, from Old English scyttan; akin to Middle Dutch schutten to shut in, Old English scēotan to shoot — more at shoot

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shut was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shut. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

shut

verb
ˈshət
shut; shutting
1
: to move into position so as to close an opening
shut the door
2
: to close so as to forbid entrance or leaving
shut the cottage for the winter
3
: to keep in a place by enclosing or by blocking the way out : imprison
shut them in jail
4
: to close by bringing parts together
shut your eyes
5
: to stop or cause to stop operation
shut both stores for a week
the plant shut down

More from Merriam-Webster on shut

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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