Phrasal verb
shut out
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
shut out
Past
shut out
Past participle
shut out
Definition
phrasal verb. to stop someone from joining an activity or to block light or noise from entering a room. You use this when you create a barrier to keep something away.
phrasal verb. To deliberately exclude someone from a social group or process; also, to prevent the passage of light or sound into a space. The verb is transitive and allows for particle movement unless the object is a pronoun.
Examples
“Please close the blinds to shut out the bright sunlight.”
“After the argument, he began to shut out his family and refused to answer any of their phone calls.”
“The goalkeeper's primary objective was to shut out the opposing team, ensuring they remained scoreless throughout the championship final.”
Examples
simple
“Please close the blinds to shut out the bright sunlight.”
contextual
“After the argument, he began to shut out his family and refused to answer any of their phone calls.”
complex
“The goalkeeper's primary objective was to shut out the opposing team, ensuring they remained scoreless throughout the championship final.”
Usage
When used with people, it often implies an emotional or social barrier rather than a physical one.
Teaching tip
Use the sports context of a 'shutout' to help students remember the meaning of preventing an opponent from scoring or participating.
Pitfall
They shut out him from the meeting.
They shut him out from the meeting.
When the object is a pronoun, it must come between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
shut + (object) + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
PHRASAL VERB
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/shut-out