lock
noun
a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.
had locked
-
past perfectof lock.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Her lender had locked her in at a rate of 6.7%.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
But moments later she remembered she had locked the car doors before setting off.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
By April 15, officials announced they had locked in 273 million barrels of crude and 2.1 million tons of naphtha through year-end on routes that bypassed Hormuz.
From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026
National Association of Realtors cost the industry $418 million and dismantled longstanding rules that had locked in opaque commission structures for decades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
I remembered the time Mrs. Wheeler had locked my ball in her toolshed, and when she had yelled at me for falling off my bike.
From "Doing Time Online" by Jan Siebold
