# shutdown

/ˈʃətˌdaʊn/ (US) · /ʃˈʌtdaʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shutdown
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. stopping operations

noun · CEFR B2

the act of turning off a computer or stopping work at a factory or office.

For teachers: the cessation of operations or activity, typically regarding machinery, computer systems, or industrial facilities.

- The factory faced a temporary shutdown due to a lack of raw materials.
- Following the security breach, the IT department initiated an emergency shutdown of all servers to prevent further data exfiltration.

Usage: Often used with 'emergency', 'temporary', or 'scheduled'.

### 2. psychological response

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a state where a person becomes silent and unable to react because they are overwhelmed by stress.

For teachers: a defensive psychological state, often associated with neurodivergence, where an individual becomes unresponsive due to sensory or emotional overload.

- After the loud party, he experienced a total shutdown and couldn't speak for an hour.
- Clinicians distinguish between a meltdown, which is externalised, and a shutdown, where the patient internalises their distress and becomes physically motionless.

Teaching tip: This term is frequently used within the autistic community to describe a specific coping mechanism.

### 3. a big success

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang

a very successful event or a great atmosphere.

For teachers: a significant success or an event with a highly energetic, positive atmosphere.

- The concert last night was a total shutdown.
- The album launch was a complete shutdown, with fans lining up around the block and every track receiving massive radio play.

Usage: Commonly used in UK urban music scenes and youth culture.

### 4. sports defense

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a defensive play that completely stops the other team from scoring.

For teachers: a defensive performance or strategy that effectively neutralises the opposing team's offensive capabilities.

- The pitcher's shutdown of the rival team led them to a clean victory.
- The coach credited the win to a defensive shutdown in the final quarter that left the opponents unable to find any space in the paint.

## Examples

- The factory scheduled a week-long shutdown for maintenance.
- The government shutdown lasted for three weeks, leaving many federal employees without a paycheck.
- Engineers initiated an emergency shutdown of the reactor after sensors detected a significant drop in coolant pressure, preventing what could have been a catastrophic failure.

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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.