shut up meaning and definition

SHUT UP verb

Definition of shut up (verb)

1. refuse to talk or stop talking; fall silent
   • "The children shut up when their father approached"
   • synonyms: be quiet, belt up, button up, clam up, close up, dummy up, keep mum
   • antonym: open up
2. place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape
   • "The parents locked her daughter up for the weekend"; "She locked her jewels in the safe"
   • synonyms: lock, lock away, lock in, lock up, put away, shut away
3. cause to be quiet or not talk
   • "Please silence the children in the church!"
   • synonyms: hush, hush up, quieten, silence, still
   • antonym: louden

SHUT UP adjective

Definition of shut up (adjective)

1. closely confined
   • synonyms: pent