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 of shutdown

Noun

• cessation
• halt
• ending
• closure
• end
• close
• conclusion

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

But in the end, too many obstacles got in the way, including the government shutdown and the Pineapple Express storm in December 2025 that damaged one of the ski lifts. — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

The post from Arc announcing its shutdown has faced significant pushback from users who claim Dia isn't as useful to them, with many asking the brand to open-source its original browser. — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Horned Frogs’ defense deserves a ton of credit for shutting down a Baylor offense that scored 55 points and rolled up 564 yards in its last game against Arizona State. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

In addition, games with online functionality will also be required to provide an offline mode before the servers supporting them are shut down. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026

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