lock in
Third Person
locks in
Present Participle
locking in
Past Tense
locked in
Past Participle
locked in
1
to shut someone or oneself in a place by locking the door
- During the storm, they locked themselves in the cabin for safety.
- The hostages were locked in a cell with no means of escape.
- She locked herself in the bathroom when she heard the intruder.
- The robber locked the homeowner in the closet before making off with their valuables.
- He locked himself in his room to avoid the party.
2
to secure something tightly in place, preventing leakage, loss, or alteration
- The airtight jar locked in the freshness of the cookies.
- The vacuum-sealed bag locked in the air, preserving the food's flavor and texture.
- The freezer door locked in the cold, preventing the ice cream from melting.
- To extend the shelf life of perishable items, use airtight containers to lock in freshness and prevent spoilage.
Synonyms:
3
to make something fixed or certain, preventing it from changing
- The investor locked in a favorable exchange rate for their currency transaction, ensuring a predictable outcome.
- The negotiators locked in the terms of the agreement, preventing further disputes or alterations.
- The company locked in the price of their product for a year, providing customers with price certainty.
- The government locked in the interest rates on loans, making borrowing more affordable for individuals and businesses.
- The negotiators are locking the terms of the agreement in to prevent any last-minute changes.
4
to enter a state of total focus or concentration on a task
- I locked in and finished the report ahead of schedule.
- The team will lock in to meet the tight project deadline.
- Once you lock in, distractions don't bother you.
- After some coffee, I finally locked in and completed the task efficiently.
- He locks in easily when there's a tight deadline.