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
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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
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Recent Examples of lock (up)
Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
They are being held together at an immigration lockup in Dilley.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
These investments are typically illiquid and long-term, with multi-year lockups and limited redemption options.
—Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine is joining Venezuela’s president and the man charged with gunning down United Healthcare’s CEO in a notorious federal lockup in New York City.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
Garnett’s pivotal rulings came a day after a 35-year-old Minnesota man was charged with impersonating an FBI agent in an apparent attempt to spring Mangione from federal lockup in Brooklyn in a bizarre episode detailed in court documents.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
They are being held together at an immigration lockup in Dilley.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
These investments are typically illiquid and long-term, with multi-year lockups and limited redemption options.
—Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine is joining Venezuela’s president and the man charged with gunning down United Healthcare’s CEO in a notorious federal lockup in New York City.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
-
Police had earlier ruled out the man as a possible suspect because he was thought to have been jailed at the time of the homicide.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
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Orange County’s negotiations with the federal government to increase its reimbursement for jailing federal inmates and immigrant detainees could now last through the end of March.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On Thursday, a judge sentenced Hunter James Geidl, of Hastings, to 198 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release, according to federal court documents.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Some of the strongest footage here shows her everyday life and sisterly relationships built in the prison where she was confined for 14 years after the whole unfortunate affair.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Chrisley evolved from teenaged reality TV heiress to one of the most recognizable conservative voices of her generation after her parents were imprisoned on fraud and tax evasion charges in 2023.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Many have been imprisoned, beaten and killed, according to human rights activists.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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He was arrested again in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961 and spent four months in a penitentiary where fellow Freedom Riders cried out in song each night.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
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Azcarate sentenced Magalhaes to 10 years in the penitentiary and two years suspended.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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