as in to jail
to put in or as if in prison
if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the firm conviction that juvenile offenders should never be held in adult lockups
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of lock (up)
Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
The denim Logo Hat features Toy Story lockup and embossed Pixar ball clasp.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
Phil tells Johnny that Blackie met Allen in lockup, too, and Allen is bad news.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Investors holding just over half of Figma's outstanding Class A stock have agreed to an extended lockup, with the final 35% of their shares expiring in August 2026.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
Hubbell, who appeared in court in red jail garb, will remain in the county lockup.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
The denim Logo Hat features Toy Story lockup and embossed Pixar ball clasp.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
Phil tells Johnny that Blackie met Allen in lockup, too, and Allen is bad news.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Investors holding just over half of Figma's outstanding Class A stock have agreed to an extended lockup, with the final 35% of their shares expiring in August 2026.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
-
At that time, no one believed a dingo would take an infant and, despite her claims of innocence, the baby’s mother Lindy Chamberlain was jailed for murder.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Then two more children disappear while riding the carousel, and Maisie is jailed.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Department of Justice said Steven Anthony Cowles, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The two counts of second-degree assault could carry up to seven years in prison each, if convicted.—
PJ Green
January 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gillispie was released from prison in 2011, exonerated in 2017 and declared wrongfully imprisoned in 2021.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Cottingham, 79, has been imprisoned since his 1980 arrest.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The big difference between Lamb’s experience and that of some current staff members at the penitentiary is that prison jobs didn’t go to teenagers at the time in Illinois.—
John Hult,
States Newsroom,
23 Jan. 2026
-
On Monday, Venezuela's penitentiary authority said that 116 people had been freed.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
