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.

The oil market’s main worry has been the blockage of the strait, which is locking in millions of barrels a day of supply and causing some production to be shut in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Part of the job this week is locking out the negativity that is banging on their door.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

Meanwhile, China is locking up the silver used to manufacture the solar panels which generate that power.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025

Instead of opening up the site to further interoperability, Musk is locking it down.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2023

Chucha is locking up the garage and hosing down the driveway, which seems a strange thing to be doing in the middle of the night.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez