shut
shut — verb
1. to move a door, window, lid, book, or other object so that it covers or blocks a
to move a door, window, lid, book, or other object so that it covers or blocks an opening; or to become closed in this way.
Caio shut the book and put it back on the shelf.
shut + object for closing a thing
The kitchen door shut by itself when the wind changed direction.
intransitive: thing shuts by itself
Yara shut the lid of her laptop and stood up to leave.
If you shut the gate, the dog cannot run into the street.
conditional: if you shut + object
The old wooden window used to shut with difficulty in summer.
shut + adverb: shut with difficulty
- shut the door
- shut the window
- shut your eyes
- shut a book
- shut a gate
- shut a lid
- shut tightly
- shut firmly
- shut quietly
- open
to move something so that the opening is no longer blocked
Grammar Patterns
shut + object
shut (no object)
Usage Note
Commonly used with an object (transitive) but also works without an object when describing how a door, window, or lid moves ('The suitcase shut with a click'). For the adjective form describing a state, see the adjective entry.
Common Mistakes
2. if a shop, restaurant, factory, or similar place shuts, or if someone shuts it,
if a shop, restaurant, factory, or similar place shuts, or if someone shuts it, people can no longer enter because it is not running, either for a short time or for good.
The bookshop on the corner will shut at the end of the month.
intransitive: business shuts + time phrase
Samir's family had to shut their restaurant after the rent went up.
transitive: person + shut + business + reason
Most museums in this city shut their doors on Mondays.
regular closure pattern: shut on [days]
The factory shut its gates for the summer holidays.
temporary closure: shut + for + period
If visitor numbers stay low, the museum will shut for the winter.
- shut a shop
- shut a restaurant
- shut a factory
- shut a business
- shut for the day
- shut for good
- shut permanently
- shut temporarily
- close
more common for businesses and services; 'close' can sound less abrupt than 'shut'
- cease operations
formal; used in business announcements or official notices
- go out of business
describes permanent closure due to financial failure
- open
to start operating or being in service
Grammar Patterns
shut + business/factory/store
business/factory/store shuts
Usage Note
The subject is typically a business, shop, restaurant, factory, or institution, not a person's daily routine. For computers and electronic devices, 'shut down' is more common than 'shut' alone.
Common Mistakes
shut away
phrasal verbTo put someone or something in a place where they are not seen or contacted.
The old documents were shut away in a safe.
Why did they shut the dog away in the basement?
shut down
phrasal verbTo stop operating or functioning, especially a business or machine.
The factory shut down after the economic crisis.
Please shut down your computer before leaving.
shut in
phrasal verbTo trap someone or something inside a place.
The heavy snow shut the villagers in their homes.
Did the earthquake shut the miners in the tunnel?
shut off
phrasal verbTo stop the flow or operation of something, like water or electricity.
The plumber shut off the water supply to fix the leak.
Remember to shut off the engine before refueling.
shut off from
phrasal verbTo separate someone or something from others, preventing contact.
The village was shut off from the city by the flood.
Why did she shut herself off from her friends?
shut out
phrasal verbTo prevent someone or something from entering or being included.
The loud music shut out all other sounds.
They shut the stray cat out of the house.
shut up
phrasal verbTo stop talking or to make someone stop talking.
The teacher told the students to shut up.
Can you please shut up for a moment?
shut yourself away
phrasal verbTo go to a place where you are alone and not seen by others.
After the argument, he shut himself away in his room.
Why did she shut herself away from everyone?
shut yourself off
phrasal verbTo stop communicating or interacting with other people.
After the loss, he shut himself off from his family.
She tends to shut herself off when she's stressed.
To make it impossible for something to happen.
His rude behavior closed the door on any future collaboration.
Did her resignation shut the door on the project?
keep your mouth shut
idiomTo not say anything about a secret or something that might cause trouble.
Mia kept her mouth shut about the surprise party.
Why can't you keep your mouth shut when it matters?
To close a door forcefully when someone is trying to enter.
The angry neighbor slammed the door in the salesman's face.
Did she really shut the door in his face?
To make it impossible for something to happen.
His rude behavior closed the door on any future collaboration.
Did her resignation shut the door on the project?
To refuse to listen to something.
Sara shut her ears to the gossip about her friend.
Why would you close your ears to helpful advice?
To pretend not to notice something bad so you don't have to deal with it.
The manager closed his eyes to the team's low morale.
How can you shut your eyes to such obvious cheating?
A rude way to tell someone to be quiet.
Shut your mouth! I don't want to hear another word.
He told the noisy kid to shut his face.
shut up shop
idiomTo close a business for the day or permanently.
The bakery shuts up shop at six every evening.
After years of losses, they finally shut up shop.
Very easily, without needing to think.
Maya can solve that puzzle with her eyes shut.
He drove home with his eyes closed, he knew the road so well.
shut — adjective
1. in a state of being closed, with the opening covered, fastened, or sealed so tha
in a state of being closed, with the opening covered, fastened, or sealed so that nothing can go in or out.
The shop doors were shut when Ife arrived at 8 a.m.
be shut — describing a state
Keep the kitchen window shut while you are cooking.
keep + object + shut
Emre found all the doors shut and had to ring the bell.
Tamar's eyes were shut, but she was not asleep.
- the door is shut
- keep something shut
- eyes shut
- mouth shut
- tightly shut
- firmly shut
- open
not closed; allowing access or passage
Grammar Patterns
be shut
keep + object + shut
Usage Note
Describes a state, not an action. Compare: 'She shut the window' (verb, action) and 'The window is shut' (adjective, state). Unlike most adjectives, 'shut' is not usually used with 'very' — use 'completely,' 'fully,' or 'tightly' instead.
Common Mistakes
shut — noun
1. the action or moment of something closing, especially a door, gate, or lid.
the action or moment of something closing, especially a door, gate, or lid.
The door closed with a loud shut that echoed in the hallway.
a + adjective + shut — the sound and manner of closing
Ignacio waited for the shut of the gate before walking away.
the shut of + noun — the moment something closes
Daichi heard the shut of the drawer and knew his roommate had left.
the shut of + noun — hearing the closing action
The shed door gave a loud shut that scared the birds nesting nearby.
gave + a + adjective + shut — produces sound on closing
Beatrix listened for the shut of the taxi door before walking inside.
- the shut of the door
- with a shut
- a loud shut
- opening
the action or moment of something being opened
Grammar Patterns
the shut of + noun
Usage Note
Relatively rare in everyday conversation. 'Closing' or 'closure' are more common alternatives in most contexts. This noun form mainly appears in literary writing or fixed phrases like 'the shut of the door.'
Word family
- shutternounB2
- shutdownnounB2
- shuttingnounB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Shut is a very common everyday word for moving something so that it covers an opening. Close is the most general synonym and often sounds slightly more formal — you shut a book but close a meeting. Lock adds the idea of using a key or latch to prevent opening. Seal means to close very tightly, often to keep air, water, or light out (seal a jar, seal an envelope). Fasten involves a device such as a bolt, hook, or zipper that holds something shut (fasten a gate, fasten a jacket). In everyday speech, shut a door and close a door are usually interchangeable, though shut can sound more forceful or physical.
Common collocations
Etymology
Shut comes from Old English 'scyttan,' which originally meant 'to shoot a bolt across a door' — the same root as 'shoot.' The idea was sliding a bolt into place to close a door. Over time, the meaning broadened to any kind of closing, not just with a bolt.