Use closed for a door that is not open or a business that is not operating.
The store is closed on Sundays.
The road is closed because of the accident.
Common phrasesa closed doora closed windowthe store is closedclosed on Sundaysa closed road
Word comparison
Closed, shut, locked, and private: what's the difference?
Closed and shut mean not open. Locked adds that a lock prevents opening. Private concerns access or ownership: a private place may have an open door.
closed
shutlocked
privateHow to choose a word
| Word | When to use it |
|---|---|
| closedVery Often | Use closed for a door that is not open or a business that is not operating. |
| shutVery Often | Use shut for not open, especially doors, windows and eyes. It often overlaps with closed. |
| lockedVery Often | Use locked when a lock is engaged; a closed door is not necessarily locked. |
| privateVery Often | Use private for something restricted to particular people or not public, such as a private office. |
Word by word
Use shut for not open, especially doors, windows and eyes. It often overlaps with closed.
Please keep the door shut while the baby is sleeping.
She shut her eyes and tried to relax.
Common phrasesshut the doorkeep the window shutshut your eyesshut the lidthe door slammed shut
Similar word
locked
Use locked when a lock is engaged; a closed door is not necessarily locked.
The door is locked, so we need the key.
I left my phone in the car, and the car is locked.
Common phrasesa locked doora locked cara locked phonelocked outlocked file
Use private for something restricted to particular people or not public, such as a private office.
Her Instagram account is private.
This is a private meeting; only team members can join.
Common phrasesa private meetingprivate propertya private accounta private messageprivate information
Frequently asked questions
How do I use closed in this comparison?
Use closed for a door that is not open or a business that is not operating.
Are these words always interchangeable?
Closed and shut mean not open. Locked adds that a lock prevents opening. Private concerns access or ownership: a private place may have an open door.
