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Definitions

lock up

VERB
acquire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
achieve amass bring in buy collect earn gain get have pick up promote take win
STRONG
access annex attain catch cop corral gather grab land procure secure snag wangle
WEAK
get hands on get hold of latch onto rack up scare up take possession of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disperse divide fail forfeit give lose miss misunderstand pass scatter spend throw away
STRONG
give up let go release
WEAK
forgo relinquish surrender yield
VERB
affirm
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assert confirm declare guarantee insist maintain profess ratify repeat
STRONG
asseverate attest aver avouch avow certify cinch clinch ice okay predicate pronounce set state swear testify vouch witness
WEAK
cross heart have a lock on nail down put on ice rubber-stamp say so swear on bible swear up and down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny forget veto
STRONG
disavow refute reject renounce repudiate
WEAK
negate nullify
VERB
assure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confirm ensure guarantee insure secure
STRONG
cinch clinch complete ice lock seal set
WEAK
have a lock on lock on make sure nail down put on ice
Antonyms
STRONG
halt
VERB
bind
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confine constrain engage oblige require restrict
STRONG
compel detain enslave force hamper hinder indenture necessitate prescribe restrain yoke
WEAK
hogtie put half nelson on put lock on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go release
STRONG
allow encourage permit promote
WEAK
let
VERB
cage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coop up
STRONG
confine enclose envelop hem immure impound imprison incarcerate jail mew pen restrain
WEAK
close in fence in shut in shut up
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go liberate release
WEAK
let out
VERB
coop
Synonyms
STRONG
cage corral intern keep pen trap
WEAK
close in detain enclose fence in hem in hold captive hold prisoner impound imprison incarcerate put under lock and key shut in shut up
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go release
WEAK
set free
VERB
corral
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coop up
STRONG
cage confine pen
WEAK
fence in shut in shut up
Antonyms
STRONG
free let go release
WEAK
set free
VERB
enclose
Synonyms
STRONGEST
block off encase encircle encompass hem in insert wrap
STRONG
blockade bound cage circle circumscribe confine corral cover enfold enshroud environ fence hedge imbue immure implant impound imprison include induct intern jail limit mew pen restrict veil
WEAK
box up close in coop fence off lock in mure set apart shut in wall in
Antonyms
STRONG
exclude face free let go liberate meet reject release reveal set free
WEAK
unloose
VERB
ensure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assure establish insure protect provide safeguard secure
STRONG
arrange certify cinch clinch confirm effect guard okay warrant
WEAK
lock on make certain make safe make sure nail down put on ice set out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
endanger harm hurt injure
STRONG
contradict deny forget ignore invalidate neglect reject repudiate veto
VERB
forbid
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ban block cancel censor deny deprive disallow enjoin exclude freeze halt hinder impede inhibit oppose preclude prevent proscribe restrain restrict rule out stop
STRONG
check debar embargo forestall forfend interdict nix obstruct obviate spike stymie taboo veto withhold
WEAK
declare illegal hold up put the chill on say no shut down shut out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
add admit advance aid allow approve assist continue encourage facilitate forward free go help include let go permit push release support welcome
WEAK
authorize sanction
VERB
get
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bring draw earn gain grab have land make obtain pick up pull realize receive score take win
STRONG
access accomplish acquire annex attain bag capture clear compass cop educe effect elicit evoke extort extract fetch glean hustle inherit net parlay procure reap secure snag snowball wangle
WEAK
bring in build up buy into buy off buy out cash in on chalk up clean up come by get hands on make a buy make a killing rack up snap up succeed to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid drop forfeit give lose offer refuse reject release throw away
STRONG
abandon free give up let go push away relinquish surrender
WEAK
leave miss pass yield
VERB
have
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept acquire admit bear carry enjoy gain get hold include keep obtain own pick up possess receive retain take
STRONG
annex compass corner hog land occupy procure secure
WEAK
chalk up get hands on get hold of have in hand latch on to sit on take in teem with
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon avoid deny disallow dispossess dispute exclude forfeit forsake free give lack let go lose need not have offer pass refuse reject release spend surrender throw away yield
VERB
hide
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bury camouflage cover disguise hole up mask obscure plant protect shelter shield smuggle stash suppress tuck away withhold
STRONG
adumbrate cache cloak curtain dissemble ditch duck eclipse ensconce harbor reserve screen secrete shadow shroud squirrel stifle veil
WEAK
blot out go into hiding go underground hold back hush up keep from keep secret lie low not give away not tell put out of the way salt away stow away take cover
Antonyms
STRONGEST
lay bare let go open release reveal uncover unmask
WEAK
bare disclose divulge exhibit expose let out show tell
VERB
hold
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arrest carry detain enjoy have imprison keep maintain occupy own seize take
STRONG
adhere bind catch check cherish clasp cleave clench clinch cling clutch confine contain cradle embrace enclose fondle grip handle hug nourish palm possess press restrain retain secure squeeze stick trammel vise wield withhold wring
WEAK
bottle up cork up freeze to hang on keep close keep out not let go put a lock on stay put
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail free give ignore lack let go liberate lose need neglect offer reject release want
STRONG
abandon aid allow assist exclude help loose loosen miss permit unfasten untie
WEAK
cancel cease desert disbelieve drop forsake halt quit stop
VERB
immobilize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
clog restrain shackle tie up
STRONG
bind confine curb delay fetter hog-tie hold idle leash limit obstruct restrict stop trammel
WEAK
bring to a screeching halt entrammel tie one's hands
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free
STRONG
advance aid allow assist encourage help let go loose loosen release support
VERB
imprison
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apprehend commit detain hold incarcerate jail remand
STRONG
cage check circumscribe closet constrain curb ice immure impound intern keep limit nab occlude pen restrain stockade trammel
WEAK
bastille bottle up fence in hold captive hold hostage hold in custody keep captive keep in custody lock in put away put behind bars rail in send to prison send up shut in take prisoner
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cease free let go liberate release stop
STRONG
aid allow assist help permit
VERB
incarcerate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confine detain imprison jail
STRONG
book cage commit constrain hold immure impound intern railroad restrain restrict settle slough
WEAK
bastille coop up put away put on ice put under lock and key send up the river take away throw book at
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go liberate release
STRONG
cancel cease stop
VERB
jail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confine detain hold imprison sentence take away
STRONG
bastille book cage can constrain immure impound prison railroad
WEAK
put away put behind bars put on ice send up throw away the keys throw in dungeon throw the book at
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free let go liberate release
VERB
mew
Synonyms
STRONG
blockade bound cage circle circumscribe confine coop corral cover encase encircle encompass enfold enshroud environ fence hedge imbue immure implant impound imprison include induct insert intern jail limit pen restrict veil wall wrap
WEAK
block off box up close in fence off hem in lock in mure set apart shut in shut up wall in
Antonyms
STRONG
exclude face free let go liberate meet reject release reveal set free take out uncover unwrap
VERB
monopolize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absorb exclude possess take over utilize
STRONG
acquire consume copyright corner devour employ engross have hog hold manage own patent restrain syndicate
WEAK
bogart corner the market exercise control keep to oneself own exclusively sew up sit on take up
Antonyms
STRONG
abstain fail ignore lack let go lose need reject release
WEAK
distribute scatter share
VERB
possess
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquire carry enjoy maintain occupy own retain seize
STRONG
bear control corner dominate grab hog hold
WEAK
be blessed with be born with be endowed with corner the market get hands on get hold of have to name latch on to sit on take over take possession
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail free lack let go lose need release surrender yield
STRONG
abandon forsake
WEAK
dispossess miss not have
VERB
prohibit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ban block constrain enjoin forbid freeze halt hinder impede inhibit outlaw preclude prevent proscribe restrain restrict rule out
STRONG
cool cork debar disallow forfend hamper interdict kill nix obstruct spike stymie taboo veto
WEAK
bottle up box in bring to screeching halt gridlock hang up hold up jam up keep lid on pass on put a lock on put a stopper in put chill on put down put half nelson on shut out throw cold water on tie up zing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow approve assist continue facilitate forward free help include let go permit push release support
STRONG
encourage promote
WEAK
favor
VERB
put away
Synonyms
WEAK
certify commit confine institutionalize jail
Antonyms
WEAK
abstain free give birth liberate refrain
VERB
restrain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confine constrain control curb curtail detain deter govern hamper hinder inhibit keep down kill limit prevent repress restrict subdue suppress
STRONG
arrest bind bridle chain check circumscribe contain control cool cork debar delimit direct fetter gag guide harness hold impound imprison jail keep manacle muzzle pinion proscribe stay
WEAK
bottle up box up choke back crack down hem in hogtie keep in line pull back sit on tie down tie up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist encourage free help let go liberate permit promote release start turn on
STRONG
abandon forsake give up leave loose loosen misguide mislead neglect set free
VERB
secure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cement clinch fix settle
STRONG
adjust anchor bind bolt button catch chain clamp close fasten hitch lash lock moor nail padlock pinion rivet tack tie tighten
WEAK
batten down button down hook on make fast tie down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
unfix
STRONG
detach disconnect disjoin free let go loose loosen lose open release unchain unfasten unhitch unlock untie
VERB
secure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
achieve assure buy capture ensure gain get guarantee have insure take win
STRONG
access acquire annex bag catch cinch grasp hook land lock procure
WEAK
chalk up come by get hold of make sure pick up rack up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forfeit lose miss
STRONG
let go release
WEAK
give up
VERB
stash
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bury conceal disguise hole up secrete smuggle tuck away
STRONG
adumbrate cache camouflage cloak cover curtain dissemble ditch duck eclipse ensconce harbor mask obscure occult plant protect reserve screen shadow shelter shield shroud squirrel stifle suppress veil withhold
WEAK
blot out go into hiding go underground hold back hush up keep from keep secret lie low not give away not tell put out of the way salt away stow away take cover
Antonyms
STRONGEST
expose lay bare open reveal tell uncover
STRONG
disregard encourage ignore lay out let go release
VERB
store
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accumulate bury deposit freeze hide hoard keep lock away pack put save stash stockpile
STRONG
amass bank bin bottle cache can cumulate garner hive hutch mothball park reserve squirrel away stock up treasure victual warehouse
WEAK
keep in reserve lay away lay up pack away put away put by put in storage roll up salt away save for rainy day sock away
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disperse spend squander throw away uncover waste
STRONG
disburse dissipate divide
WEAK
use
VERB
tie/tie up
Synonyms
WEAK
bind clog confine curb delay entrammel fetter hog-tie hold leash limit obstruct restrain restrict shackle stop tie one's hands trammel
Antonyms
WEAK
aid assist encourage free help
VERB
tie up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bind clog
WEAK
confine curb delay entrammel fetter hinder hog-tie hold leash limit obstruct restrain restrict shackle stop trammel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free
NOUN
lockup
Synonyms
STRONGEST
penitentiary
STRONG
clink cooler hoosegow pokey prison slammer
WEAK
calaboose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Looking to tap in to the innovation, big drugmakers and investors are spending billions to lock up rights to promising Chinese-originated drug candidates like 3SBio’s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

At 6, he’d lock up and head home.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Also, remove or lock up any valuables from your home before your guest arrives.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

The Rams did not wait for the end of the season to lock up key members of their core.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

“Max, lock up the house, and set a course for Archaide.”

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline