shutdown

1 of 2

noun

shut·​down ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 

: the cessation or suspension of an operation or activity

shut down

2 of 2

verb

shut down; shutting down; shuts down

intransitive verb

: to settle so as to obscure vision : close in

the night shut down early

transitive verb

: to make ineffective in competition

shut down the opposition's offensive line

Synonyms

Noun

• arrest
• arrestment
• cease
• cessation
• check
• close
• closedown
• closure
• conclusion
• cutoff
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• end
• ending
• expiration
• finish
• halt
• lapse
• offset
• shutoff
• stay
• stop
• stoppage
• surcease
• termination

Examples of shutdown in a Sentence

Noun

the shutdown of the factory

the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The company’s Los Angeles refinery may face a similar fate as a San Francisco-area plant that is slated for permanent shutdown by this time next year, executives said during a conference call with investors. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025

The lawmaker pledged to continue making the case for the importance of the Department of Education despite extreme overhauls on the horizon of a complete shutdown. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025

Verb

That confusion over the connection between antisemitism and the research being shut down is one element in the university's legal case against the federal government. —Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025

In 2020, Baltimore County’s school system was shut down by a cyberattack that hit all its network systems. —Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1779, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for shutdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

shutdown

noun

shut·​down ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 

: an ending of an activity