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.

Why lock up deodorant when a company could use that cash to pay their employees enough to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck?

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Other companies have also veered from the traditional lock up periods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 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

I’d lock up the bar, make myself a double Singapore Sling, settle down with a paper fan and practically swoon with grief.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

lock up

Example Sentences

Related Words