shut·out
ˈshət-ˌau̇t 
1
: a game or contest in which one side fails to score
2
: a preemptive bid in bridge
shut out; shutting out; shuts out
1
: exclude
2
: to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game or contest
3
: to forestall the bidding of (bridge opponents) by making a high or preemptive bid
Examples of shutout in a Sentence
Noun
They beat us in a 9–0 shutout.
Verb
local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Gausman had it all day, throwing seven shutout innings as the Blue Jays’ offence exploded in a 14-0 win over the San Diego Padres.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Tim Britton, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, also shut out, was off $27,933 to $619,570 while still filling 93% of seats at the Friedman.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutout
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Noun
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped them all for his third shutout of the postseason.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Gausman had it all day, throwing seven shutout innings as the Blue Jays’ offence exploded in a 14-0 win over the San Diego Padres.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
Despite the early ejection of starting pitcher Walker Buehler, Boston shut out the Mets 2-0.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, also shut out, was off $27,933 to $619,570 while still filling 93% of seats at the Friedman.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutout
Cite this Entry
“Shutout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutout. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutout
1 of 2 noun
shut·out
ˈshət-ˌau̇t
: a game in which one side fails to score
shut out
2 of 2 verbˌshət-ˈau̇t
1
: to keep something out : exclude
2
: to keep an opponent from scoring in a game
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