shut
shut — verb
1. to move a door, window, lid, book, or other object so that it covers or blocks a
to move a door, window, lid, book, or other object so that it covers or blocks an opening; or to become closed in this way.
Caio shut the book and put it back on the shelf.
shut + object for closing a thing
The kitchen door shut by itself when the wind changed direction.
intransitive: thing shuts by itself
Yara shut the lid of her laptop and stood up to leave.
If you shut the gate, the dog cannot run into the street.
The old wooden window used to shut with difficulty in summer.
- open
to move something so that the opening is no longer blocked
文法句型
shut + object
shut (no object)
用法筆記
Commonly used with an object (transitive) but also works without an object when describing how a door, window, or lid moves ('The suitcase shut with a click'). For the adjective form describing a state, see the adjective entry.
常見錯誤
2. if a shop, restaurant, factory, or similar place shuts, or if someone shuts it,
if a shop, restaurant, factory, or similar place shuts, or if someone shuts it, people can no longer enter because it is not running, either for a short time or for good.
The bookshop on the corner will shut at the end of the month.
intransitive: business shuts + time phrase
Samir's family had to shut their restaurant after the rent went up.
transitive: person + shut + business + reason
Most museums in this city shut their doors on Mondays.
The factory shut its gates for the summer holidays.
If visitor numbers stay low, the museum will shut for the winter.
- close
more common for businesses and services; 'close' can sound less abrupt than 'shut'
- cease operations
formal; used in business announcements or official notices
- go out of business
describes permanent closure due to financial failure
- open
to start operating or being in service
文法句型
shut + business/factory/store
business/factory/store shuts
用法筆記
The subject is typically a business, shop, restaurant, factory, or institution, not a person's daily routine. For computers and electronic devices, 'shut down' is more common than 'shut' alone.
常見錯誤
shut — adjective
1. in a state of being closed, with the opening covered, fastened, or sealed so tha
in a state of being closed, with the opening covered, fastened, or sealed so that nothing can go in or out.
The shop doors were shut when Ife arrived at 8 a.m.
be shut — describing a state
Keep the kitchen window shut while you are cooking.
keep + object + shut
Emre found all the doors shut and had to ring the bell.
Tamar's eyes were shut, but she was not asleep.
- open
not closed; allowing access or passage
文法句型
be shut
keep + object + shut
用法筆記
Describes a state, not an action. Compare: 'She shut the window' (verb, action) and 'The window is shut' (adjective, state). Unlike most adjectives, 'shut' is not usually used with 'very' — use 'completely,' 'fully,' or 'tightly' instead.
常見錯誤
shut — noun
1. the action or moment of something closing, especially a door, gate, or lid.
the action or moment of something closing, especially a door, gate, or lid.
The door closed with a loud shut that echoed in the hallway.
a + adjective + shut — the sound and manner of closing
Ignacio waited for the shut of the gate before walking away.
the shut of + noun — the moment something closes
Daichi heard the shut of the drawer and knew his roommate had left.
The shed door gave a loud shut that scared the birds nesting nearby.
Beatrix listened for the shut of the taxi door before walking inside.
- opening
the action or moment of something being opened
文法句型
the shut of + noun
用法筆記
Relatively rare in everyday conversation. 'Closing' or 'closure' are more common alternatives in most contexts. This noun form mainly appears in literary writing or fixed phrases like 'the shut of the door.'