1 B2 neutral
To keep a person isolated in a private space, away from the outside world.
"She shut herself away for three weeks to finish writing her novel."
separable
shut away
B2 neutral separable transitive
To isolate a person or thing by keeping them in a closed or separate place, away from others.
In plain English
To keep a person or thing somewhere closed off so they can't get out or others can't see them.
What does "shut away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To store or conceal an object in a secure, enclosed space.
"The jewels were shut away in the family vault and never displayed."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To shut (close) and move away or keep away — fairly transparent.
Actually means
To keep a person or thing somewhere closed off so they can't get out or others can't see them.
Usage tip
Can be used for people (children shut away from the world, prisoners, the mentally ill in older usage) or objects (valuables shut away in a safe). Also used reflexively: 'She shut herself away to write.' Carries a sense of deliberate seclusion.
Words that pair with "shut away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
valuables documents prisoner room safe herself/himself
How to conjugate "shut away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
shut away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shuts away
he/she/it
Past simple
shut away
yesterday
Past participle
shut away
have + pp
-ing form
shutting away
continuous
Hear "shut away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "shut away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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