ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shut

v. · adj. · n.
US //ˈʃət// UK //ʃˈʌt// shut
Irregular verb past shut past participle shut
  1. 1 to close (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move a door, window, or lid so that an opening is covered.

    to move a barrier into a position that closes an opening. Often used interchangeably with 'close', though 'shut' can imply more force or finality.

    Example

    Please shut the door behind you so the cat doesn't get out.

    Example

    The heavy oak doors shut with a resounding thud, echoing through the empty stone hallway of the manor.
  2. 2 to stop operating (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to stop a business or shop from being open for the day or forever.

    to cease the operations of a business or institution, either temporarily for the day or permanently.

    Example

    The local grocery store shuts at nine o'clock on Sundays.

    Example

    After decades of declining sales, the textile mill finally shut its doors, leaving hundreds of local workers without employment.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to trap or catch (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to catch a part of your body in something while it is closing.

    to catch or snag an object or body part in the process of closing a barrier.

    Example

    I accidentally shut my finger in the car door and it really hurt.

    Example

    He let out a sharp cry of pain after he shut his coat sleeve in the locker, pinning him to the spot.
  2. 4 not open (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    in a position that is not open.

    being in a closed state. Typically used as a predicative adjective after a verb like 'be' or 'keep'.

    Example

    Keep your eyes shut until I tell you to open them.

    Example

    The windows remained shut throughout the storm to prevent the driving rain from damaging the interior upholstery.
  3. 5 narrow passage (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Dialect

    a very narrow path or alleyway between buildings.

    a narrow alley or pedestrian passage, specifically one that runs through or between buildings.

    Example

    We took a shortcut through a dark shut to reach the main square.

    Example

    The town's medieval layout is famous for its network of narrow shuts, which provided residents with quick passage between the parallel streets.

    Usage

    This sense is highly localized to specific regions of the West Midlands in England.
Etymology 1

From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic skutjaną, skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic skuttą, skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”).

Etymology 2

Variation of chute or shute (archaic, related to shoot) from Old English scēotan.

Word family
Idioms9 entries

© 2026 English Reference