# shut

/ˈʃət/ (US) · /ʃˈʌt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shut
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to close

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- Please shut the door behind you so the cat doesn't get out.
- The heavy oak doors shut with a resounding thud, echoing through the empty stone hallway of the manor.

### 2. to stop operating

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- The local grocery store shuts at nine o'clock on Sundays.
- After decades of declining sales, the textile mill finally shut its doors, leaving hundreds of local workers without employment.

### 3. to trap or catch

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- I accidentally shut my finger in the car door and it really hurt.
- He let out a sharp cry of pain after he shut his coat sleeve in the locker, pinning him to the spot.

### 4. not open

adjective · CEFR A2

in a position that is not open.

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

- Keep your eyes shut until I tell you to open them.
- The windows remained shut throughout the storm to prevent the driving rain from damaging the interior upholstery.

### 5. narrow passage

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a very narrow path or alleyway between buildings.

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

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

## Examples

- Please shut the door when you leave the room.
- The shopkeeper decided to shut the store early because of the heavy snowstorm.
- After the final guest departed, she heard the heavy oak door shut with a definitive click that echoed through the empty hallway.

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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.