shut up

verb

shut up; shutting up; shuts up

transitive verb

: to cause (a person) to stop talking

intransitive verb

: to cease writing or speaking

Examples of shut up in a Sentence

you have no right to tell the rest of us to shut up nothing I said would shut them up
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Disney Channel has shut up shop in a number of countries as its parent company continues to focus on its streaming service, Disney+. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 Has the right suddenly decided that athletes should not just shut up and dribble but instead publicly engage with political issues? Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2024 One indie boss says getting the production fee for making an overseas show could be the difference between continuing to trade or shutting up shop. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024 Ever the peacekeeper, Amanda gets them to shut up by sharing the news about Carmen, a forceful reminder that their problems are small potatoes. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shut up 

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of shut up was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near shut up

Cite this Entry

“Shut up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shut%20up. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

shut up

verb
1
: to cause a person to stop talking
2
: to stop writing or speaking

More from Merriam-Webster on shut up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!