1 A2 neutral
To enclose a person or animal inside a space by closing the door or opening.
"Make sure you don't shut the cat in the bedroom overnight."
separable
shut in
B1 neutral separable transitive
To confine a person or animal inside a space by closing it; also used as an adjective for someone housebound.
In plain English
To close someone or something inside a place so they can't get out.
What does "shut in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To feel emotionally or physically trapped and isolated from the outside world.
"After six weeks of recovery at home, she began to feel completely shut in."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To shut (close) someone in a space — transparent.
Actually means
To close someone or something inside a place so they can't get out.
Usage tip
Can be transitive ('shut the dog in the kitchen') or used reflexively ('she felt shut in'). The compound noun/adjective 'shut-in' describes a person who is housebound due to illness or disability — common in American English. Note the hyphen when used as a modifier.
Words that pair with "shut in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
room car cage kitchen house cupboard
How to conjugate "shut in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
shut in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shuts in
he/she/it
Past simple
shut in
yesterday
Past participle
shut in
have + pp
-ing form
shutting in
continuous
Hear "shut in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "shut in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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