shut out

USAGE SUMMARY

"shut out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to mean that someone or something is intentionally excluded or ignored. For example, "The school's administration shut out the students' ideas for a new dress code."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They'd been shut out, too".

The New Yorker

So she's shut out.

The Guardian - Film

Shut out the piano.

The New Yorker

You're shut out.

The Guardian

It is shut out.

The New York Times

I could shut out the moon.

The New Yorker

It shut out vast categories of humankind.

The New York Times

"It's effectively shut out American companies".

The New York Times

Weak scenario: He gets shut out.

The New York Times

I could shut out the world.

The New York Times

It has been shut out four times.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shut out" to describe a complete prevention of access, participation, or scoring in sports. For instance, "The goalie shut out the opposing team, securing a victory."

Common error

Avoid using "shut out" when a weaker term like "exclude" or "ignore" would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly dramatic or forceful.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "shut out" primarily functions as a transitive verb, requiring an object. It indicates the action of preventing something or someone from entering, participating, or being seen or heard. As seen in Ludwig, it is deemed grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "shut out" is a versatile term that signifies exclusion or prevention, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Grammatically sound and very common, it finds its primary use in News & Media. To write effectively, use "shut out" when you want to convey the idea of complete exclusion or prevention, and consider alternatives like "exclude" or "keep out" for slightly different nuances. Be mindful of context to maintain appropriate tone, and avoid overuse in situations where a less forceful term is more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exclude

Focuses on the act of preventing someone or something from entering or participating.

keep out

Implies preventing entry or access to a place or group.

lock out

Suggests a more forceful or permanent exclusion.

block out

Emphasizes preventing something from being seen or heard, or from affecting someone's mind.

screen out

Indicates filtering or removing unwanted elements.

oust

Suggests forceful removal from a position or place.

reject

Implies a refusal to accept or consider something.

disregard

Focuses on ignoring or paying no attention to something.

ignore

Suggests a deliberate act of not noticing or acknowledging something.

eliminate

Emphasizes the complete removal or eradication of something.

FAQs

What does "shut out" mean?

The phrase "shut out" can mean to prevent someone or something from entering or participating, to prevent scoring in a game, or to block something from sight or mind.

How can I use "shut out" in a sentence?

You can use "shut out" in sentences like, "The team's defense shut out the opposing team", or "She tried to shut out the noise to concentrate".

What are some alternatives to "shut out"?

Alternatives to "shut out" include "exclude", "keep out", "block out", and "ignore", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say someone was "shut out" of a conversation?

Yes, it is correct. It means that person was excluded from or not allowed to participate in the conversation, similar to saying they were "excluded from" the conversation.