To stop operating a business, machine, or system, either temporarily or permanently.
The company had to shut down its factory due to financial problems.
A: Why is the café dark today? B: They shut down last week. Business was really slow.
If my favorite local shop shut down, I would miss it a lot because I go there almost every day.
Common mistake
✗The power cut shut down it.
✓The power cut shut it down.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'shut it down', never 'shut down it'.
Tell it apart
They shut the plant down.
closed the business
He shut down when I asked.
went quiet emotionally
Use 'shut down' for things like companies, factories, computers, or systems—not for physical objects like doors.'Shut down' is stronger than 'close'—it often means stopping something completely, not just for a short time.
To stop communicating or showing emotions, often because of stress or discomfort.
Whenever the topic gets personal, he tends to shut down and avoid eye contact.
A: Are you okay? You’ve been really quiet. B: Sorry, I just shut down when I get overwhelmed.
Some people shut down during arguments because they find it hard to express their emotions.
Common mistake
✗She shut down herself when she got upset.
✓She shut down when she got upset.
In this sense it's intransitive — you don't 'shut down' yourself.
Tell it apart
He shuts down when we argue.
goes quiet, withdraws
He shut the laptop down.
turned it off
In conversations, 'shut down' can mean someone stops talking or sharing their feelings.Different from 'calm down', which means to relax; 'shut down' means to withdraw or stop responding.
To reject, silence, or abruptly end someone’s point or contribution in a discussion, often without giving it fair consideration.
Whenever someone challenges his ideas, he tends to shut them down before they can finish explaining.
A: I tried to suggest a different approach in the meeting, but Sarah just shut me down. B: That's frustrating. She should at least listen to your reasoning.
In group discussions, it is important not to shut down alternative viewpoints, as this can hinder creative problem-solving.
Common mistake
✗He shut down me in the meeting.
✓He shut me down in the meeting.
With a person or pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'shut me down'.
Tell it apart
She shut me down before I finished.
dismissed my point
She shut the machine down.
turned it off
'Shut down' in this sense is used in discussions or debates to describe rejecting or silencing someone's argument or contribution, sometimes abruptly. It is neutral in register but can carry a negative connotation if used about someone being unfair or dismissive.Unlike the B1 sense (to close a business or system) and the B2 sense (to stop showing emotions), this sense is figurative and refers specifically to dismissing or rejecting someone’s input in a conversation or debate.