lock out 1 of 2

verb

Definition of lock outnext
as in to walk

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lockout

2 of 2

noun

as in sit-down

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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 out
Verb
The district has specifically directed the company to lock out the gas and electrical lines. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Grocery stores can use the 2D codes to remove about-to-expire food and lock out spoiled items from getting rung up at checkout. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
The current collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners is set to expire in December, which means a lockout and possible cancellation of 2027 games could follow. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026 But with a potential December lockout on the horizon, this year’s World Series could affect the game’s future beyond the baseball diamond. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lock out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock out
  1. walk
  2. sit-down
  3. walk out
  4. slowdown
  5. walkout
  6. job action
  7. sick-out
Verb
  • People walk past Chicago Public Schools headquarters on July 30, 2026.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • This also had a boat trip included, a lovely way to cool off after a day walking Barcelona’s lanes.
    — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of walk
Noun
  • Ahead of the sit-down dinner and ceremony, guests such as Storm Reid, Christine Quinn, Jurnee Smollett, and Lukas Gage trickled in from the rainy outdoors over an hour or so, greeted inside with Casamigos cocktails, filet mignon canapés, and more.
    — Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2023
  • The seven new sit-down restaurants are serving an impressive mix of Italian, Eastern European, Brazilian, French and Mexican food.
    — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 17 Mar. 2023
Definition of sit-down
Verb
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled the plug on the traditional group photo after several European officials threatened to boycott or walk out of the snapshot that usually helps kick off such diplomatic gatherings.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • On the one hand, the journalist’s role is to gather information, and so walking out or not covering news events poses a difficult conundrum.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of walk out
Noun
  • As artificial intelligence capital expenditure expands, market attention extends beyond fundraising capacity and buyback sustainability to whether this investment cycle can persist, and how much volatility a slowdown might induce.
    — , CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The Asia-Pacific region was down 2%, impacted by sales slowdown in China, Southeast Asia and the Pacific cluster.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of slowdown
Noun
  • CalHR unsuccessfully attempted to legally block Wednesday’s walkout through the state’s labor referee.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • While it’s not made explicitly clear in the closing minutes of season four, Sewell and Russell see his walkout as a resignation.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of walkout
Noun
  • The pilots’ job action was in protest of the Belgian government’s reforms to federal pensions.
    — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The job action shut down the entirety of New Jersey Transit’s rail service, from the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains in New York to Atlantic City — including, most notably, trains into and out of Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan.
    — Dan Barry, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Definition of job action
Noun
  • Last season, Maggie faced nursing union negotiations, culminating in a sick-out.
    — Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Maggie’s major Season 10 storyline involved the tense nursing union negotiations at the hospital, which culminated in a sick-out.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of sick-out

Browse Nearby Words

locking (up)
lock out
lockout
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Cite this Entry

“Lock out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20out. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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