Antonyms for locking up

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : lok

Phonetic Transcription : lɒk

Definition of locking up

Origin : "means of fastening," Old English loc "bolt, fastening; barrier, enclosure," from Proto-Germanic *lukan (cf. Old Norse lok "fastening, lock," Gothic usluks "opening," Old High German loh "dungeon," German Loch "opening, hole," Dutch luik "shutter, trapdoor"). "The great diversity of meaning in the Teut. words seems to indicate two or more independent but formally identical substantival formations from the root."
The Old English sense "barrier, enclosure" led to the specific meaning "barrier on a river" (c.1300), and the more specific sense "gate and sluice system on a water channel used as a means of raising and lowering boats" (1570s). Wrestling sense is from c.1600. Phrase under lock and key attested from early 14c.

As in imprisonment : noun placing in forcible detention
As in imprison : verb confine; put in jail
As in incarcerate : verb put in jail, confinement
As in jail : verb incarcerate
As in monopolize : verb dominate, control
As in assure : verb make certain
As in possess : verb have or obtain
As in prohibit : verb make impossible; stop
As in put away : verb incarcerate
As in restrain : verb keep under control; hold back
As in secure : verb obtain
As in secure : verb attach, tie up
As in store : verb collect and put aside
As in tie/tie up : verb hamper, hinder
As in bind : verb obligate; restrict
As in tie up : verb hamper
As in cage : verb hold in enclosure
As in acquire : verb obtain or receive
As in immobilize : verb tie
As in mew : verb enclose
As in stash : verb hide
As in coop : verb confine
As in corral : verb enclose
As in affirm : verb declare the truth of something
As in enclose : verb put inside, surround
As in ensure : verb guarantee; make secure
As in forbid : verb outlaw, prohibit an action
As in get : verb come into possession of; achieve
As in have : verb be in possession
As in hide : verb conceal; remain unseen
As in hold : verb have in one's hands, possession; grasp

Example sentences :

When the hour came for locking up, he supposed all strangers to be excluded for the night.
Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens

But we will not have any more tricks played at locking up Ketch.
Extract from : « The Channings » by Mrs. Henry Wood

Yes, but she must be quick for he was locking up for the night, and there was but a minute or so to spare.
Extract from : « Barnaby Rudge » by Charles Dickens

After locking up, he thought carefully about what Uncle Ingemar had said.
Extract from : « The Status Civilization » by Robert Sheckley

He was just locking up as I passed, so I told him, and sent him off.
Extract from : « The Borough Treasurer » by Joseph Smith Fletcher

I'm so used to locking up the house at nights that I did it without thinking.
Extract from : « The Hand in the Dark » by Arthur J. Rees

Any place in which he was in the habit of locking up papers, for instance?
Extract from : « The Chestermarke Instinct » by J. S. Fletcher

She was telling me about seeing the face and locking up the house.
Extract from : « Shoe-Bar Stratton » by Joseph Bushnell Ames

A youth was just locking up the ticket-office and going off as they reached it.
Extract from : « McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, July 1908. » by Various

He did not even wait to assist her in the process of locking up.
Extract from : « A Modern Chronicle, Complete » by Winston Churchill

Synonyms for locking up

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019