shut-in

1 of 3

noun

ˈshət-ˌin 

1

: a person who is confined to home, a room, or bed because of illness or incapacity

2

: a narrow gorge-shaped part of an otherwise wide valley

3

: available oil or gas which is not being produced from an existing well

shut-in

2 of 3

adjective

ˈshət-ˈin 

1

: confined to one's home or an institution by illness or incapacity

2

a

: secretive, brooding

a bitter, shut-in face

—Claudia Cassidy

b

: tending to avoid social contact : withdrawn

the shut-in personality type

—S. K. Weinberg

shut in

3 of 3

verb

shut in; shutting in; shuts in

transitive verb

1

: confine, enclose

2

: to prevent production of (oil or gas) by closing down a well

Examples of shut-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The filmmaker hatched the project before the COVID-19 pandemic, but somehow failed to consider that audiences have had their fill of claustrophobic shut-in stories. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024

Advertisement Arlo, though, is absent and presumed dead, and Naoise’s mom (Simone Kirby) has become a shut-in. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024

Adjective

When Darren Aronofsky’s film received a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, star Brendan Fraser shot to the top of the Best Actor rankings for his performance as a 600-pound shut-in. —Vulture, 7 Mar. 2023

Verb

Even though Alameda is close to San Francisco and Oakland, the tunnels, bridges, and ferries that connect it to the mainland could easily be shut in an emergency, making the island’s hospital a lifeline. —Annie Sciacca | Kff Health News, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024

Keep windows and doors shut in the house and close the windows of the car while driving. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shut-in

noun

ˈshət-ˌin

: a sick person unable to go outdoors

Medical Definition

shut-in

1 of 2 noun

ˈshət-ˌin 

: a person who is confined to home, a room, or bed because of illness or incapacity

shut-in

2 of 2 adjective

ˌshət-ˌin 

1

: confined to one's home or an institution by illness or incapacity

2

: tending to avoid social contact : withdrawn

diagnostic and prognostic significance of the shut-in personality type

—S. K. Weinberg