lock away
phrasal verb
locked away; locking away; locks away
1
: to put (something) in a locked container, place, etc.
The jewelry was locked away in a cabinet.
2
: to put (someone) in a locked place (such as a prison) for a long period of time
lock away a criminal
The state locked their sister away in a psychiatric hospital.
3
: to keep (oneself) alone in a room or place for a long period of time
He locked himself away in his room while he studied.
He was locked away in his room while he studied.
Examples of lock away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The data existed in the community; it was just locked away from management.
—
Andrew Binns, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The graduating class finds their simpatico homeroom teacher replaced by a humorless, by-the-book type, and the Music Research Club is deemed a fire hazard and shut down, the electronic equipment locked away in a storeroom.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
But with Celebrimbor locked away in his tower forging the nine rings of power that will eventually transform mortal men into the Nazgûl, the other Eregion elves are unable to muster a defense capable of withstanding the orcs’ assault.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024
Long after El Chapo was arrested, convicted in the U.S. and locked away on a life sentence, El Mayo remained free and ruled as top boss.
—Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lock away 
Andrew Binns, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The graduating class finds their simpatico homeroom teacher replaced by a humorless, by-the-book type, and the Music Research Club is deemed a fire hazard and shut down, the electronic equipment locked away in a storeroom.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
But with Celebrimbor locked away in his tower forging the nine rings of power that will eventually transform mortal men into the Nazgûl, the other Eregion elves are unable to muster a defense capable of withstanding the orcs’ assault.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024
Long after El Chapo was arrested, convicted in the U.S. and locked away on a life sentence, El Mayo remained free and ruled as top boss.
—Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lock away
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lock away.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Lock away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lock%20away. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
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