lock away
phrasal verb
locked away; locking away; locks away
1
: to put (something) in a locked container, place, etc.
The jewelry was locked away in a cabinet.
2
: to put (someone) in a locked place (such as a prison) for a long period of time
lock away a criminal
The state locked their sister away in a psychiatric hospital.
3
: to keep (oneself) alone in a room or place for a long period of time
He locked himself away in his room while he studied.
He was locked away in his room while he studied.
Examples of lock away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of the substances have been locked away for decades at the downtown headquarters of the Houston Police Department.
—
Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Across town, about 35,000 books celebrating the life of Sheikh Mujib — Ms. Hasina’s father and the man long considered Bangladesh’s founding leader — have been locked away.
—Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Combined with the natural sinking of uneaten flocs, this process has the potential to lock away substantial amounts of carbon at greater depths.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
McCall said changing sea patterns due to climate change could impact how far inland bears go throughout the year and recommended locking away waste in order not to attract them.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lock away 
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Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Across town, about 35,000 books celebrating the life of Sheikh Mujib — Ms. Hasina’s father and the man long considered Bangladesh’s founding leader — have been locked away.
—Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Combined with the natural sinking of uneaten flocs, this process has the potential to lock away substantial amounts of carbon at greater depths.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
McCall said changing sea patterns due to climate change could impact how far inland bears go throughout the year and recommended locking away waste in order not to attract them.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lock away
Dictionary Entries Near lock away
Cite this Entry
“Lock away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lock%20away. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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