as in to jail
to put in or as if in prison
if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the firm conviction that juvenile offenders should never be held in adult lockups
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lock (up)
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Investors holding just over half of Figma's outstanding Class A stock have agreed to an extended lockup, with the final 35% of their shares expiring in August 2026.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
The Chrisley family's grand return to TV after Todd and Julie's pardon releases from prison is marred by family strife that grew during the years of lockup.
—Ryan Coleman September 2, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Since that peak, CoreWeave’s stock price has steadily dropped, in part because of the end of the lockup period that allowed early investors to sell their shares.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
Phil tells Johnny that Blackie met Allen in lockup, too, and Allen is bad news.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Investors holding just over half of Figma's outstanding Class A stock have agreed to an extended lockup, with the final 35% of their shares expiring in August 2026.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
The Chrisley family's grand return to TV after Todd and Julie's pardon releases from prison is marred by family strife that grew during the years of lockup.
—Ryan Coleman September 2, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Since that peak, CoreWeave’s stock price has steadily dropped, in part because of the end of the lockup period that allowed early investors to sell their shares.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
-
Others wondered if he would be jailed.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
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Beckerink is currently jailed in Michigan, where he was sentenced to three months on domestic violence charges related to incidents that occurred at Tracey’s home in 2024, the station reported.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sylvester Stallone has an unexpected pick for which of his films shouldn't be sentenced to cryo-prison.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
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He was sentenced to life in prison without parole that July, per the Detroit Free Press.—
Kelsey Lentz,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mike, beginning in Sunday’s first episode, must confront the limitations of his power when his younger brother Kyle (Taylor Handley) is imprisoned.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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Some of them have been called, held to account and even imprisoned.—
Chris Massaro,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Portlaoise Prison, which is in the center of Ireland, is a nineteenth-century penitentiary built like a fortress—a one-star establishment, at best.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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If found guilty of a level 5 felony, Sanchez could be imprisoned anywhere from one to six years at an Indiana penitentiary and fined up to $10,000, according to the Indiana Code.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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