# locked up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/locked-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to be in prison or a place you cannot leave. You also use this when you close and lock all the doors of a building.

For teachers: to be incarcerated or confined in a secure facility; also functions as the past participle of the phrasal verb 'lock up', meaning to secure a premises.

## Examples

- The criminal is locked up in a small cell.
- The store is always locked up by the manager before he leaves for the night.
- After the verdict was read, the defendant was immediately locked up to await sentencing in a high-security facility.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was locked up for steal." but "He was locked up for stealing." — the preposition 'for' must be followed by a gerund when describing the reason for imprisonment.

## Usage notes

- frequently used in the passive voice to describe someone being in prison.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'lock out' to help students visualize the direction of confinement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.