shut down; shutting down; shuts down
: to settle so as to obscure vision : close in
the night shut down early
: to make ineffective in competition
shut down the opposition's offensive line
Synonyms
Examples of shutdown in a Sentence
Noun
the shutdown of the factory
the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert H. Bork Jr., National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
The number of people granted asylum per year dipped during Mr. Biden’s first year in office, after the global pandemic shutdown, but then more than doubled in his second year.
—Caitlin Babcock, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shutdown 
Noun
The administration appears unconcerned about the long-term implications of a generation of schoolchildren stunted by the pandemic shutdown.
—Robert H. Bork Jr., National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
The number of people granted asylum per year dipped during Mr. Biden’s first year in office, after the global pandemic shutdown, but then more than doubled in his second year.
—Caitlin Babcock, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shutdown
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shutdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shutdown
Cite this Entry
“Shutdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutdown. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutdown
noun
shut·down
ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 
: an ending of an activity
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