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)
Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2025
In the two months since Brooks’ death at Marcy Correctional Facility near upstate Rome, calls have erupted for systemwide investigations — and prisoners in another lockup near Buffalo took control of two dorms.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
That wouldn't be Russell's first stint in lockup, though.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Other individuals who worked to influence Trump and his Justice Department on Low’s behalf aren’t looking at decades in federal lockup.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Noun
The only letter that even touched on racial issues was Landis calling for strict segregation in city and county lockups.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2025
In the two months since Brooks’ death at Marcy Correctional Facility near upstate Rome, calls have erupted for systemwide investigations — and prisoners in another lockup near Buffalo took control of two dorms.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
That wouldn't be Russell's first stint in lockup, though.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Other individuals who worked to influence Trump and his Justice Department on Low’s behalf aren’t looking at decades in federal lockup.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lock (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock (up)
Verb
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In related news, the mayor of San José proposed jailing homeless people who repeatedly refuse shelter.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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Both men remained jailed on $100,000 bond Thursday at a Platte County detention facility.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The two were later tried separately, with Lori being sentenced to life in prison without parole and Chad, who was part of a doomsday cult, sentenced to death, also for the murder of Lori's two kids and his first wife.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
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In prison, McTiernan interviewed many of his fellow inmates to gather their stories and testimonies.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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He was imprisoned in Afghanistan from 2019 until just two weeks before the bombing, at which point he was recruited by an ISIS-K member to assist in the attack.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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Ocalan, 75, has been imprisoned on the island of Imrali, off Istanbul, since 1999, after being convicted of treason.—
ROBERT BADENDIECK AND SUZAN FRASER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The complaints at Lee mirror accounts from what was then a federal penitentiary, USP Thomson in Illinois, especially the overuse of four-point restraints.—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
18 Dec. 2024
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Lamberth also noted that there are only about 16 transgender women housed in female penitentiaries, including the three plaintiffs who sued.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lock (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock%20%28up%29. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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