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)
Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026
He’s being held at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Owners reported sudden deceleration, downshifting, and temporary rear wheel lockups in 2015-2017 models.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
They are being held together at an immigration lockup in Dilley.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
Another factor likely contributing to StubHub’s falling share price is the expiration of its 180-day lockup.
—Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026
He’s being held at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Owners reported sudden deceleration, downshifting, and temporary rear wheel lockups in 2015-2017 models.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
They are being held together at an immigration lockup in Dilley.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
-
Kendra was briefly jailed before being released on bond.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Ronald Demeo, 63, was jailed last week after a woman reported that she was assaulted while under sedation at his clinic, located at 2801 SW Third Ave.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On that same day, nearly 300 people were sent to the prison in El Salvador from the same Texas detention center, according to the American Immigration Council.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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Sacramento’s smallest zoo Alali now lives in Natomas with her fiancé, Alex Saraceno, along with Merlin; a girl group of rats named Monica, Moira and Amy; a former prison pigeon named Al Capone; a bearded dragon named Muffy; and a dog named Maverick.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The judge also expressed doubt that Carroll's medical needs would be met if imprisoned, and believed Carroll, who had no criminal offenses prior to the crash, would respond well to the terms of the probation.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Noem seemed to relish cruelty, and treated her job like a costume party, constantly mugging for cameras with guns and faux toughness as if the dismantling of lives and imprisoning even children was a game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The government opened the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz in 1934, hoping to use the remote island to house particularly difficult prisoners, according to the National Park Service.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
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But Wood’s penitentiary is considerably sturdier.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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