Shut — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective noun /ˈshət/

Meaning & Definition of Shut

Shut (verb)

  1. to move into position to close an opening
  2. to prevent entrance to or passage to or from
  3. to confine by or as if by enclosure

Shut (adjective)

  1. closed, fastened, or folded together
  2. rid, clear, free —usually used with of

Shut (noun)

  1. the act of shutting

Shut (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening

    "please shut the door when you leave"

    similar: close, make (chiefly dialect), steek (chiefly Scottish)
    related: bar, batten (down), bolt, chain, fasten, latch, lock, plug, seal, stopper, secure, bang, clap, slam
    opposite: open
    near: unbar, unbolt, unchain, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unseal

  2. to stop the operations of

    "shut both stores for a week"

    similar: close, close (down), close out
    related: phase out, turn off, extinguish, quell, suppress, gag, muzzle, silence, fail, fold
    opposite: open, start
    near: build, expand

Shut (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in closed, blocked

    similar: blocked, clogged, closed, jammed, obstructed, plugged, stopped, stuffed, uncleared, impassable, constricted, cramped, encumbered, hampered, hindered, impeded, interfered (with), trammeled, barricaded, blockaded, dammed, gated
    opposite: clear, cleared, free, open, unclogged, unclosed, unobstructed, unstopped, enterable, navigable, passable, emptied, empty, unoccupied, vacant

Related Entry: Shut (of) (adjective)

Shut (of) is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut (of), not for shut.

  1. no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful

    "I cannot wait to be shut of this social obligation"

    similar: disencumbered, free, quit, unburdened
    related: delivered, freed, liberated, released, unhampered, unimpeded
    near: encumbered, handicapped, hindered, hobbled

Related Entry: Shut-eye (noun)

Shut-eye is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut-eye, not for shut.

  1. a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself

    "I can usually get some extra shut-eye on the weekends"

    similar: bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, repose, rest, resting, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, z's
    related: catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, nap, siesta, snooze, wink, oversleeping, dreaming, rapid eye movement
    opposite: consciousness, wake, wakefulness
    near: insomnia, sleeplessness

Related Entry: Shut off (verb)

Shut off is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut off, not for shut.

  1. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "threatened to shut off peace talks if the other side kept making unreasonable demands"

    similar: break, break off, break up, can (slang), cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, stop, have done with, put the kibosh on
    related: complete, conclude, finish, close (down), deactivate, block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem, call, suspend, arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back, pause, stay, abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on, advance, proceed, progress, actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

  2. to cause to stop functioning

    "shut off the computer to save electricity"

    similar: deactivate, kill, turn off
    related: flick (off), dismantle, mothball, phase out, arrest, brake, chock, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick
    opposite: activate, actuate, crank (up), drive, move, propel, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on
    near: charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push, discharge, launch, release, switch, trip, reactivate, recharge

Related Entry: Shut out (verb)

Shut out is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut out, not for shut.

  1. to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of

    "local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport"

    similar: ban, bar, close out, count (out), debar, eliminate, except, exclude, freeze out, rule out, close one's doors to
    related: blackball, blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize, banish, deport, exile, expel, oust, throw out, obviate, preclude, prevent, prohibit, block, hinder, impede, obstruct, cease, discontinue, halt, suspend, deter, stave off, ward (off), check off, disregard, comb (out), weed (out)
    opposite: admit, include
    near: accept, embrace, entertain, receive, take in, welcome, unban

Related Entry: Shut up (verb)

Shut up is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut up, not for shut.

  1. to stop talking

    "you have no right to tell the rest of us to shut up"

    similar: belt up (British), clam up, dry up, dummy up, hush, pipe down, quiet (down), hold one's tongue
    related: calm (down), cool (down), settle (down), haw, hem
    opposite: speak, talk
    near: pipe up, sound off, speak out, speak up, spout (off), talk up

  2. to stop the noise or speech of

    "nothing I said would shut them up"

    similar: dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten (chiefly British), settle, shush, silence, squelch, still
    near: agitate, stir

Related Entry: Shut (in or up) (verb)

Shut (in or up) is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut (in or up), not for shut.

  1. as in contain, bottle (up)

    similar: bottle (up), contain, restrain
    opposite: belch, disgorge, eject, eruct, erupt, expel, jet, spew, spout, spurt, gush, pour, squirt, stream, surge, emanate, exhale, issue, release, shoot, spit, spring, vent

Related Entry: Shut out (adjective)

Shut out is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut out, not for shut.

  1. as in ruled out, excluded

    similar: excluded, ruled out, precluded, prevented, stopped, blocked, hindered, impeded, obstructed, repressed, suppressed, refused, rejected, revoked, unsanctioned, vetoed, disallowed, disapproved, discouraged, objectionable, unseemly, unsuitable, ineffable, unmentionable, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, improper, inappropriate, unauthorized, unlawful, unlicensed
    opposite: allowable, permissible, permissive, sufferable, acceptable, bearable, endurable, tolerable, accepted, accredited, allowed, appropriate, approved, authorized, certified, endorsed, lawful, legal, legitimate, licensed, OK, permitted, warranted, accorded, granted, sanctioned, vouchsafed, brooked, condoned, countenanced, encouraged, promoted, supported, commanded, mandatory, ordered, required, proper, seemly, suitable, tolerated, unobjectionable

Related Entry: Shut-in (noun)

Shut-in is a different word from Shut. The synonyms below are for shut-in, not for shut.

  1. as in homebody

    similar: homebody, anchorite, eremite, hermit, isolate, recluse, solitary
    opposite: socialite, socializer

  2. as in valley, vale

    similar: combe (British), dale, dell, glen, hollow, vale, valley, canyon, col, couloir, defile, flume, gap, gill (British), gorge, gulch, gulf, kloof (South African), linn (chiefly Scottish), notch, pass, ravine, saddle, abyss, chasm, cirque, cleft, crevasse, crevice, cwm (chiefly British), fissure, basin, floodplain, kettle, pothole, arroyo, barranca, coulee, draw, gully, gutter, nullah, trench, trough, wadi, wash (West)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Shut

The most common words with a similar meaning to Shut:

Chiefly dialect: make
Chiefly Scottish: steek
close, close (down), close out, blocked, clogged, closed, jammed, obstructed, plugged, stopped, stuffed, uncleared, impassable, constricted, cramped, encumbered, hampered, hindered, impeded, interfered (with), trammeled, barricaded, blockaded, dammed, gated

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Shut

Words with the opposite meaning of Shut:

open, start, clear, cleared, free, unclogged, unclosed, unobstructed, unstopped, enterable, navigable, passable, emptied, empty, unoccupied, vacant

Related Words for Shut

bar, batten (down), bolt, chain, fasten, latch, lock, plug, seal, stopper, secure, bang, clap, slam, phase out, turn off, extinguish, quell, suppress, gag, muzzle, silence, fail, fold

Near Antonyms of Shut

unbar, unbolt, unchain, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unseal, build, expand

Word Forms of Shut

Inflections: shutting

Origin & Etymology of Shut

Middle English shetten, shutten, from Old English scyttan; akin to Middle Dutch schutten to shut in, Old English scēotan to shoot shoot

First known use: 13th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Shut

Words & Phrases Containing Shut

shut down, shut-eye, shut-in, shut in, shut off, shut out

Frequently Asked Questions about Shut

What does "Shut" mean?

"Shut" means to move into position to close an opening. As an a verb, an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: to move into position to close an opening. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Shut"?

Other words for "Shut" include close, make, steek, close (down), close out, blocked, clogged and closed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Shut" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Shut"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Shut". Common alternatives include close, make, steek, close (down), close out, blocked, clogged, closed, jammed and obstructed.

What is the opposite of "Shut"?

Antonyms of "Shut" include open, start, clear, cleared, free, unclogged, unclosed and unobstructed. Near antonyms include unbar, unbolt, unchain and unfasten.

How do you use "Shut" in a sentence?

Examples of "Shut" in a sentence: "please shut the door when you leave"; "shut both stores for a week".

Is "Shut" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Shut" can be used as a verb, an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Shut" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Shut" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Shut"?

"Shut" is pronounced /ˈshət/.