shut in
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To close someone or something inside a place so they can't get out.
Literal meaning: To shut (close) someone in a space — transparent.
Meanings
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."
Grammar: separable
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."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
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.
Commonly used with
room car cage kitchen house cupboard
Forms
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
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