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a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.
have locked
-
present perfectof lock.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Memory prices have almost doubled since February while lead times have expanded, Morgan Stanley’s Kim noted, pointing to long-term agreements that have locked up supply.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
For the two months that federal agents have been conducting immigration raids in Minneapolis, Ana, Carlos and their son Luis have locked themselves in at home, feeling trapped behind their own deadbolt.
From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026
Glitches have locked customers out of deposit accounts, triggered improper fees and prompted enforcement actions over how the bank handled account closures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
Roughly 80% of mortgage borrowers have locked in a rate below the current average of 6.35%, said Julia Fonseca, an associate finance professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2025
She supposed her mother must have locked it again.
From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman
