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Definition of shutdown

shutdown

/ˈʃʌt.daʊn/
shut · down

Plural:shutdowns
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shutdown Lexical Profile

shutdown Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A cessation or temporary suspension of an operation, activity, or business, such as a factory, government agency, or public service.

Example

"The prolonged government shutdown delayed the processing of thousands of passport applications."


2

The process of turning off a computer, machine, or industrial system safely so that power is removed and all operations cease.

Example

"Please save all open documents before initiating a full system shutdown."


3

A state of acute emotional, cognitive, or communicative withdrawal in response to overwhelming stress or sensory overload.

Example

"The loud noise and crowded room triggered a sensory shutdown, leaving him unable to speak for several minutes."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

The solid one-word form "shutdown" is used as a noun or attributive modifier (e.g., "a factory shutdown"), whereas the two-word phrasal verb "shut down" is used for the action (e.g., "they had to shut down the factory").

• Rhymes for shutdown

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shutdown. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shutdown
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