shut down; shutting down; shuts down
: to settle so as to obscure vision : close in
the night shut down early
: to make ineffective in competition
shut down the opposition's offensive line
Examples of shutdown in a Sentence
Noun
the shutdown of the factory
the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The Russian economy faces a sharp slowdown with coal mines, the construction industry and car manufacturers among sectors that have reported temporary shutdowns and transitioned to shorter working weeks.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Sofia Perez, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
One of the biggest and best known in South Florida, the Thunderbird Swap Shop near Fort Lauderdale and around since 1963, shut down more than a year ago after a fire.
—Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutdown
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Noun
The program faced shutdown Thursday as part of federal budget cuts that include an overhaul of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The Russian economy faces a sharp slowdown with coal mines, the construction industry and car manufacturers among sectors that have reported temporary shutdowns and transitioned to shorter working weeks.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Verb
Finally, no look at the region’s celebratory food and drink would be complete without mentioning Las Fallas, the huge annual festival that shuts down the city of Valencia during the week leading up to St. Joseph’s Day (March 19th).
—Sofia Perez, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
One of the biggest and best known in South Florida, the Thunderbird Swap Shop near Fort Lauderdale and around since 1963, shut down more than a year ago after a fire.
—Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutdown
Cite this Entry
“Shutdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutdown. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutdown
noun
shut·down
ˈshət-ˌdau̇n 
: an ending of an activity
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