shut down

verb

To close, terminate, or end; to stop operating, either permanently or temporarily. (transitive) · The store was shut down at the end of the year.· The company shuts down underperforming lines.
To turn off or stop. (transitive) · It's a good idea to shut down the machine before you leave.· My computer is shutting down as we speak.
To stop offering a service, such as a bar; to perform the necessary tasks to stop a service or close a function. (intransitive, transitive) · The restaurant shuts down at two o'clock in the morning.· Mary will shut down the breakfast buffet at ten-thirty.
To become dark. (dated, intransitive, transitive) · Once the night shut down, I couldn't see my way home.
To suppress, block out, or reject something. (figuratively, transitive) · She made a proposal to reorganize the department, but management shut her down.· I asked her out, but she shut that down.
To render (something) ineffective. (figuratively, transitive) · We shut down the other team's strategy.
To emotionally withdraw into oneself as a defense mechanism; to block out external stressors. (figuratively, intransitive, transitive) · I can't talk to him about the accident; he just shuts down anytime I try.
To pass (another vehicle), especially quickly. (slang) · I opened that throttle and shut him down.

+ Save to review

Learn shut down in real texts

With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.

Create free account