# shutting

/ˈʃətɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈʌtɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. closing a door or lid

verb · CEFR A1

the act of closing something so that it is no longer open.

For teachers: the action of moving a door, lid, or cover so that it fills an opening.

- I heard the sound of someone shutting the front door downstairs.
- The constant shutting of the heavy oak doors echoed through the library, disturbing the students who were trying to concentrate on their research.

### 2. stopping a business

verb · CEFR B1

closing a shop, factory, or business for a short time or forever.

For teachers: the act of ceasing operations of a commercial or industrial establishment, either temporarily or permanently.

- The council is shutting the local library because they don't have enough money.
- The sudden shutting of the steel mill devastated the local economy, leaving hundreds of skilled workers without immediate employment prospects.

### 3. the act of closing

noun · CEFR B2

the physical movement or sound of something being closed.

For teachers: the specific instance or sound of an object being moved into a closed position.

- The loud shutting of the gate woke the dog up.
- The rhythmic shutting of the hydraulic valves was the only sound audible in the otherwise silent engine room.

## Examples

- She is shutting the window because it is cold.
- The shopkeeper is shutting the store early today to prepare for the holiday weekend.
- By shutting the gates before the storm arrived, the staff managed to protect the inner courtyard from the worst of the wind and debris.

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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.