shut

To move a door, window, or similar object so its opening is covered.

• Please shut the window.
• He shut the door behind him.
• She shut her eyes and listened.

Similar words: close

Opposites: open

Common phrases: shut the door, shut a window, shut your eyes, shut the gate

To refuse to accept or consider ideas, feelings, or information.

• He shut his mind to new ideas.
• She has shut her heart to love.
• Don’t shut your mind to advice from younger people.

How to use it: shut one’s mind to something (He shut his mind to any suggestion of change.); shut one’s heart to someone/something (She shut her heart to him after their argument.)

Similar words: close

Opposites: open

Common phrases: shut your mind, shut your heart

With its opening covered or its parts brought together, so nothing can pass through.

• The door is shut.
• She kept her eyes shut during the ride.
• Is the garden gate still shut?

Similar words: closed

Opposites: open

Common phrases: shut door, keep something shut, shut tight

Closed or unavailable, so people cannot use it or do business there.

• The shop is shut today.
• Both banks were shut when we arrived.
• Is the swimming pool shut for repairs?

How to use it: shut for something (The office is shut for the holidays.); shut to someone (The museum is shut to visitors today.)

Similar words: closed

Opposites: open

Common phrases: shop is shut, shut for lunch, shut to visitors

The act or moment of closing something.

• We heard the shut of the gate.
• He returned at the shut of day.
• The shut of the door ended their conversation.

How to use it: the shut of something (They left at the shut of day.)

Similar words: closing, close

Opposites: opening

Common phrases: shut of something, shut of day