shutdown

American  

[shuht-doun] / ˈʃʌtˌdaʊn /

noun

• shutdowns
  plural

1. a shutting down, as of a factory, school, or machine; a termination or suspension of operations, services, or business activity.

   a partial government shutdown;

   an emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor.

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shutdown British  

/ ˈʃʌtˌdaʊn /

noun

1. 1. the closing of a factory, shop, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      shutdown costs

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verb

1. to cease or cause to cease operation

2. (tr) to close by lowering

3. (tr) (of fog) to descend and envelop

4. informal (intr; foll by on or upon) to put a stop to; clamp down on

5. (tr) to reduce the power level of (a nuclear reactor) to the lowest possible value

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• shutdowns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of shutdown

1855–60, noun use of verb phrase shut down

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shutdown shutdowns

At Hungary’s Paks plant, which generates about 40% of the country’s electricity, water shortages have put the facility on the threshold of a shutdown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The findings suggest that antineutrino detectors could eventually provide useful information not only while reactors are operating, but also during maintenance and after shutdown.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

Neighbouring Hungary has so far avoided a shutdown of its only nuclear plant in Paks, which also uses the Danube.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Romania halted operations of its only nuclear plant on Thursday, a rare shutdown due to a drought scorching Europe that has caused the Danube river, whose waters cool the plant, to fall to record lows.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

The result was an almost complete shutdown of the city.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

Outside the Gravelines plant, the largest in Western Europe, the shutdowns or production reductions affecting other reactors are linked to extreme heat and droughts, depriving the plants of the water they need for cooling.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

India ranked second worldwide in internet shutdowns last year, according to Access Now monitor, including localised blackouts during protests, conflict and communal violence.

From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026

In his nearly three decades at Apple, Tim Cook completely revolutionized the company’s supply chain and guided the company through tariffs, pandemic shutdowns and other obstacles.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

When mobile internet shutdowns intensified during heightened security around Russia's Victory Day celebrations in May, he said he saw people struggling to withdraw money to spend at a flower market in central Moscow.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

As a result, the economy has been officially reported to suffer enormous losses through production shutdowns, substitutions of materials that lower quality and increase costs, and hoarding of scarce materials.

From Area Handbook for Bulgaria by Violeta D. Baluyut

Related Words

• closedown
• closure
• stoppage