shutdown

1 of 2

noun

shut·​down ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 

: the cessation or suspension of an operation or activity

shut down

2 of 2

verb

shut down; shutting down; shuts down

intransitive verb

: to settle so as to obscure vision : close in

the night shut down early

transitive verb

: to make ineffective in competition

shut down the opposition's offensive line

Synonyms

Noun

• arrest
• arrestment
• cease
• cessation
• check
• close
• closedown
• closure
• conclusion
• cutoff
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• end
• ending
• expiration
• finish
• halt
• lapse
• offset
• shutoff
• stay
• stop
• stoppage
• surcease
• termination

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

Noun

Tesla’s first modest drop in quarterly sales only occurred in 2020 during the pandemic when shutdowns hit production and deliveries. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025

That led to a developer revolt, a subreddit blackout, and the shutdown of some popular Reddit clients. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025

Verb

Flooding in Kentucky shuts down famous bourbon distillery The Buffalo Trace Distillery, the country's oldest continuously operating distillery, has been closed for days as the staff waits for floodwaters to recede. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Notably, a 2018 dust storm permanently shut down NASA’s Opportunity rover after covering its solar panels with grit. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1779, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for shutdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

shutdown

noun

shut·​down ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 

: an ending of an activity