shut down; shutting down; shuts down
: to settle so as to obscure vision : close in
the night shut down early
: to make ineffective in competition
shut down the opposition's offensive line
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
Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Sep. 2025
In 2020, during COVID-19 shutdowns, English didn’t have the schedule conflicts that once hindered him from starting his own coffee business.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
After that, while the judiciary will not formally shut down, some operations may begin being put on hold.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutdown
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Noun
But historically, voters have blamed the party in power for a government shutdown.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Sep. 2025
In 2020, during COVID-19 shutdowns, English didn’t have the schedule conflicts that once hindered him from starting his own coffee business.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
Officials shut down a stretch of South Mission Road to investigate.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
After that, while the judiciary will not formally shut down, some operations may begin being put on hold.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutdown
Cite this Entry
“Shutdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutdown. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutdown
noun
shut·down
ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 
: an ending of an activity
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