shut·out
ˈshət-ˌau̇t 
1
: a game or contest in which one side fails to score
2
: a preemptive bid in bridge
shut out; shutting out; shuts out
1
: exclude
2
: to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game or contest
3
: to forestall the bidding of (bridge opponents) by making a high or preemptive bid
Examples of shutout in a Sentence
Noun
They beat us in a 9–0 shutout.
Verb
local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport
Recent Examples on the Web
Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025
The Mets went to the bullpen for Reed Garrett, who struck out the next two to keep the shutout intact.
—Abbey Mastracco, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2025
Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Black Doves, The Gentlemen, and Fool Me Once were all shut out of the main awards (Black Doves got a Craft nom for costume design), while Bridgerton — which is produced by Shondaland but is synonymous with the UK — only figured in the Memorable Moment category and in Craft for hair and makeup.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutout
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Noun
Dominic McCrory added 2 hit, 2 runs and 2 RBI.
Hagerty 3, Lake Nona 1
Buzz: Brandon Levy and Ryan Foscolo each had an RBI for the Huskies (19-2-1) in the win, while Noah Adkins had 9 strikeouts in 5 shutout innings for the win.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025
The Mets went to the bullpen for Reed Garrett, who struck out the next two to keep the shutout intact.
—Abbey Mastracco, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
Addy Walls had a complete game with 14 strikeouts as Hopkinton shut out Holliston, 11-0, in a Tri-Valley League game.
—Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Black Doves, The Gentlemen, and Fool Me Once were all shut out of the main awards (Black Doves got a Craft nom for costume design), while Bridgerton — which is produced by Shondaland but is synonymous with the UK — only figured in the Memorable Moment category and in Craft for hair and makeup.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutout
Cite this Entry
“Shutout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutout. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutout
1 of 2 noun
shut·out
ˈshət-ˌau̇t
: a game in which one side fails to score
shut out
2 of 2 verbˌshət-ˈau̇t
1
: to keep something out : exclude
2
: to keep an opponent from scoring in a game
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