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
Aris Folley, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
In the final hours of the 2024 congressional session, lawmakers voted on a number of high-profile bills, including expanding Social Security and funding the government to avert a looming shutdown.
—Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Whitney Perry, Glamour, 2 Jan. 2025
The Cruise shut down, rather than hand wringing and gnashing of teeth, has instead been more like a shrug.
—Richard Bishop, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shutdown 
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Noun
Trump previously called on Republicans to act on the nation’s debt ceiling as part of a bipartisan deal that averted a government shutdown in December.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
In the final hours of the 2024 congressional session, lawmakers voted on a number of high-profile bills, including expanding Social Security and funding the government to avert a looming shutdown.
—Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
However, Holland shut down these rumors during an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan.
—Whitney Perry, Glamour, 2 Jan. 2025
The Cruise shut down, rather than hand wringing and gnashing of teeth, has instead been more like a shrug.
—Richard Bishop, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shutdown
Dictionary Entries Near shutdown
Cite this Entry
“Shutdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutdown. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutdown
noun
shut·down
ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 
: an ending of an activity
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