# shut out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shut-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They shut out him from the meeting." but "They shut him out from the meeting." — When the object is a pronoun, it must come between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.