lockdown

[ lok-doun ]

/ ˈlɒkˌdaʊn /

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See synonyms for lockdown on Thesaurus.com

noun

the confining of prisoners to their cells, as following a riot or other disturbance: The prison lockdown continues, more than three weeks after the death of a guard.

a security measure taken during an emergency to prevent people from leaving or entering a building or other location: The school remains under lockdown due to police activity in the area.The governor implemented a statewide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus—residents may not leave their homes for nonessential activities.The army base was on lockdown after a report of shots fired.

a freeze or pause: Banks aren’t lending during this credit lockdown.

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Origin of lockdown

First recorded in 1970–75; lock¹ + -down, probably extracted from nouns formed from phrasal verbs, such as crackdown, shutdown, etc.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lockdown in a sentence

You push the lock down, but it has to actually click for a bar to go across.
‘The Bling Ring’ Case Revealed: The Stars’ Grand-Jury Testimony|Marlow Stern|June 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Maybe it is time for Admiral McRaven to be told to lock down his SEALS until they can be brought under control.
Special Ops Veterans Respond to Navy SEAL Book ‘No Easy Day’|The Daily Beast|September 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Spending $1 billion to lock down a chunk of prime real estate in that market probably makes sense.
Facebook Makes Big Bet by Acquiring Instagram|Dan Lyons|April 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Michael Tomasky on why Mitt needs to lock down the nomination by the end of January.
Michael Tomasky: Why Iowa Is Mitt Romney’s Do-or-Die Moment|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Russell, by comparison, got 144 years, spent in perpetual lock-down.
The Man Who Fell for 'King Con'|Gina Piccalo|December 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
What I want to do is get the janandra into the lock, slam the door on it and lock down the control switches.
The Winds of Time|James H. Schmitz
But them eyelets, now, they lock down all around through a vulcanized collar.
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
Then call Calvette, lock down the trap-door, and get us some more wine from the cistern.
The Castle of Andalusia|John O'Keeffe

British Dictionary definitions for lockdown

lockdown

/ (ˈlɒkˌdəʊn) /

noun

US a security measure in which those inside a building such as a prison, school, or hospital are required to remain confined in it for a timemany schools remained under lockdown yesterday

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

lockdown

Origin of lockdown

Words related to lockdown

How to use lockdown in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lockdown