lock-in
noun
an act or instance of becoming unalterable, unmovable, or rigid.
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lock-in
American
[lok-in]
/ ˈlɒkˌɪn /
noun
-
an act or instance of becoming unalterable, unmovable, or rigid.
-
commitment, binding, or restriction.
lock-in
British
noun
lock in
Idioms
-
Enclose, surround, as in The ship was completely locked in ice . [c. 1400s]
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Also, lock into . Fix firmly in position, commit to something. This phrase often occurs as , as in She felt she was locked in a binding agreement , or Many of the stockholders are locked into their present positions . [Mid-1900s]
Etymology
Origin of lock-in
First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase lock in
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:
Some of the deals available to people willing to lock-in their savings for fixed period are at their highest for nearly two years.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
That, in turn, would result in lower costs for end users, the letter noted, while open weights also give customers more autonomy over their technology, preventing vendor lock-in.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Still, the results of the Coldwell Banker survey of more than 700 agents, conducted from late March to early April, are another sign that the lock-in effect is loosening.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026
Current processes disadvantage open-source providers through requirements that name proprietary products while failing to take notice of the total cost of ownership and ignoring the problem of vendor lock-in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
As the week dragged on, Friday night and the library lock-in started to remind Kyle of Christmas, too: It felt like they would never come.
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
For those of us who stay ready for the Kate Wyler 2028 campaign, it’s time to lock in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
Meanwhile, Texas has 20 different media markets, placing less pressure on outside groups to commit money early and lock in rates, one national GOP strategist told the Tribune.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
On top of that, he pointed out that Micron has been instituting long-term agreements, which lock in contracts with customers to sell capacity in advance and can limit volatility down the road.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
HP and Acer have secured limited quantities of memory chips and are seeking to lock in more supplies for next year, some of the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Next thing I know, I dart outta his room, push the bottom lock in, and slip into the kitchen before he catches me.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
