shutdown

1 of 2

noun

shut·​down ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 

: the cessation or suspension of an operation or activity

shut down

2 of 2

verb

shut down; shutting down; shuts down

intransitive verb

: to settle so as to obscure vision : close in

the night shut down early

transitive verb

: to make ineffective in competition

shut down the opposition's offensive line

Synonyms

Noun

• arrest
• arrestment
• cease
• cessation
• check
• close
• closedown
• closure
• conclusion
• cutoff
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• end
• ending
• expiration
• finish
• halt
• lapse
• offset
• shutoff
• stay
• stop
• stoppage
• surcease
• termination

Examples of shutdown in a Sentence

Noun

the shutdown of the factory

the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The first happened in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, before the COVID-19 shutdown. —Sam Jacobs, TIME, 4 June 2024

Paramedics’ response times have been creeping up in recent years, as have day-to-day shutdowns of some units on days when there aren’t enough staff. —Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 1 June 2024

Verb

Rubio’s filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2020, The Mercury News reported at the time, and has been shutting down restaurants ever since. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 4 June 2024

While not all of them have panned out—the HoloLens mixed-reality headset, for example, was effectively shut down last year—one big wager has: generative AI. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 4 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1779, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

shutdown

noun

shut·​down ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 

: an ending of an activity