padlock
Americannoun
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padlocks
plural
verb (used with object)
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padlocks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
padlocked,
past participle, past
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padlocking
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
padlocksimple
-
padlockssimple
-
have padlockedperfect
-
has padlockedperfect
-
am padlockingprogressive
-
are padlockingprogressive
-
is padlockingprogressive
-
have been padlockingperfect progressive
-
has been padlockingperfect progressive
Past
-
padlockedsimple
-
had padlockedperfect
-
was padlockingprogressive
-
were padlockingprogressive
-
had been padlockingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of padlock
First recorded in 1425–75, padlock is from the late Middle English word padlok. See pod 4, lock 1
Explanation
A lightweight lock that attaches using a pivoting hook is called a padlock. Many high school students use lockers that can be locked with padlocks to keep their smelly gym clothes safe. A padlock's hook or shackle is hinged so that it can fasten through an opening, clicking shut securely. Most padlocks require a key to open them, while others use a combination, a series of wheels that you turn and align to show a certain password before the padlock will open. You can use padlock as a verb, too: "Be sure to padlock the back gate when you leave!"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When we arrive he stops at a weathered wooden fence, uses a saw-toothed key to open a padlock, and swings open the gate before pulling into a nearly empty parking lot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Giving evidence to the inquest on Friday, Jonathan McKee explained that it is not known for sure if there was a padlock on the hatch in the months before Noah's death.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
Not necessarily a designer one, but a handbag with a strong sense of itself — an acid-green baguette bag, a wicker orb with a padlock, a cheetah-print apothecary satchel.
From Salon ● Dec. 20, 2025
Saint Laurent’s latest offering — understated black leather with a charming gold padlock hanging off the handle — offers the user a graceful chicness that more than justifies the price tag.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2025
Ahead stood an unpainted shed with one high window and one door clamped shut with a great padlock.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
She padlocks the gate when she returns and buries witchy talismans around the property to ward off intruders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025
Sensing my interest in the cluster of irregular towers, he stood up, produced a large key ring and began opening a series of padlocks.
From New York Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
When they arrived 30 minutes later, they were unable to close the flood gate as the force of water was too strong to stand up in and padlocks were submerged.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2023
The utility informed authorities the padlocks were cut and the high side breakers turned off.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 4, 2023
The stores were shuttered, blocked with crisscrossed grates knotted with chains and enormous padlocks.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
The farmer told him the trailer had been sitting padlocked and undisturbed in the corner of a field for years.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Sindorf left in May 2024 but padlocked the unit behind him, preventing Vivos from taking possession.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
But residents can no longer view the bright autumn colours of the tree of life, a symbol often painted by Behzad, as the wooden door has been padlocked shut.
From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026
In March, the clinic doors had been padlocked for two weeks when she developed vomiting and diarrhea.
From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2025
But the last cart carried only a battered crate, padlocked shut, with airholes punched in the sides, and branded on the back—a symbol she would have recognized anywhere.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
Instead of abruptly padlocking our door, as most restaurants do, we’d give everyone four months’ notice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
She’s laid off half the staff and joked about padlocking the door.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2025
And a law that was passed primarily with climate protesters in its sights, who have taken to gluing themselves to roads and padlocking themselves to this, that and the other.
From BBC ● May 9, 2023
“It would be a terrible shame if someone were to buy it and then start padlocking it. They’ve done so much work to it, it’s quite amazing,” Bell & Co.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 27, 2022
But most of the stores were closed and the owners had pulled the metal gates down over the front windows and doors, padlocking them shut.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
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