Browse all

wall in

C1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

Put walls all around something or someone so they can't get out.

Literal meaning: To build walls inward around something.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To enclose a space or person by building walls around it.

"The old monastery garden had been walled in centuries ago to protect it from the wind."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic neutral

(Figurative) To make someone feel trapped or restricted.

"After years in the same routine, she felt completely walled in with no way to change her life."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Often used in architectural, historical, or figurative contexts. Used both literally (a courtyard walled in for security) and metaphorically (feeling emotionally trapped).

Commonly used with

garden courtyard prisoner city area space

Forms

Base
wall in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
walls in
he/she/it
Past simple
walled in
yesterday
Past participle
walled in
have + pp
-ing form
walling in
continuous

Understand "wall in" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

enclose confine surround fence in box in hem in

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "wall in" on Looplines