Shut Definition & Meaning

shut
adjective
  1. not open; "the door slammed shut"
  2. used especially of mouth or eyes; "he sat quietly with closed eyes"; "his eyes were shut against the sunlight"
verb
  1. move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut; "Close the door"; "shut the window"
  2. become closed; "The windows closed with a loud bang"
  3. prevent from entering; shut out; "The trees were shutting out all sunlight"; "This policy excludes people who have a criminal record from entering the country"

Synonyms for shut

blinking adj

closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly; "he stood blinking in the bright sunlight" informal intensifiers

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
close adv

near in time or place or relationship; "as the wedding day drew near"; "stood near the door

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
closed adj

not open or affording passage or access; "the many closed streets made travel difficult

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
compressed adj

pressed tightly together; "with lips compressed" reduced in volume by pressure

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
exclude verb

prevent from being included or considered or accepted; "The bad results were excluded from the report

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
squinting adj

having eyes half closed in order to see better; "squinched eyes"

♫ Rhymes
tight adv

firmly or closely; "held fast to the rope"; "her foot was stuck fast"; "held tight" in an attentive manner

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
winking adj

closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly

♫ Rhymes

"Shut" in song lyrics

See how shut is used in real songs:

  • "You'll be jacked up, weakened with your eyes half shut"
    9th Prince f/ Islord, Ruthless Bastards, T.M.F. — Generation Next
  • "With magnified magnanimous appearance sandy sinners in opinion shut"
    Aesop Rock — How to Be a Carpenter
  • "And they would make a weird face the second the door shut"
    Aesop Rock — No Regrets

Words that rhyme with shut

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Usage tips for "shut"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "shut" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for shut to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with shut ↔ Synonyms for shut 🔬 Words containing shut

Frequently asked questions

What does shut mean?
not open; "the door slammed shut" used especially of mouth or eyes; "he sat quietly with closed eyes"; "his eyes were shut against the sunlight" move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut; "Close the door"; "shut the window" become closed; "The windows closed with a loud bang" prevent from entering; shut out; "The trees were shutting out all sunlight"; "This policy excludes people who have a criminal record from entering the country"
What part of speech is shut?
Shut is an adjective and a verb.
How many definitions does shut have?
Shut has 5 definitions across 2 parts of speech (adjective, verb).

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