an act or instance of becoming unalterable, unmovable, or rigid.
commitment, binding, or restriction.
Enclose, surround, as in The ship was completely locked in ice . [c. 1400s]
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]
First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase lock in
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
In 2024, existing-home sales were 4.06 million, the lowest level since 1995, largely due to mortgage rate lock-in.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
Granted, he isn’t in a position to point out the role of tariffs in raising construction costs, but he might have named building regulations or mortgage lock-in or environmental rules.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026
For many of these homeowners, the lock-in effect doesn’t hold them back from selling their home, because they’re not paying a mortgage on the property.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026
Kyle realized that the library lock-in might be over but they were still locked in the library.
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
While experts try to lock in a diagnosis, the center reported she’s receiving several prophylactic treatments and they are “cautiously hopeful.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Investors who have watched AI stocks boom so far this year are looking to lock in profits, while some worry about the sustainability of AI spending.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
He says he decided to lock in the cheaper price at the start of the conflict because he predicted the war would cause prices to rise.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Overall, in a volatile market, today is always a better day to lock in a rate.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
She’d lock in her laser-sharp eyes and focus, focus, focus.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
