lock in: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to Neutral. Common in business, finance, and everyday situations involving commitment.
Quick answer
What does “lock in” mean?
To commit to something for a certain period, or to secure an advantage/price for the future.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To commit to something for a certain period, or to secure an advantage/price for the future.
To create a situation that makes it difficult or impossible for someone/something to change or escape, often leading to long-term consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. The term is used similarly in both business and general contexts.
Connotations
Equally neutral/positive in commercial contexts (securing a rate); can be equally negative in social/personal contexts (feeling trapped).
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American business/finance journalism, but common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “lock in” in a Sentence
[Subject] lock in [Object (advantage/rate/person)][Subject] lock [Object] in [to (contract/agreement)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lock in” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We should lock in the wholesale price before the budget.
- The contract locks us in for two years.
American English
- Let's lock in that mortgage rate today.
- The subscription service locks you in after the free trial.
adjective
British English
- They offer a locked-in interest rate for five years.
- He felt a locked-in sense of obligation.
American English
- We have a locked-in price guarantee.
- She has a locked-in position at the firm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
We need to lock in the current low interest rate before it rises.
Academic
The policy could lock in structural inequalities for decades.
Everyday
I locked in plans with my friends for Saturday night.
Technical
The algorithm uses a deadlock prevention mechanism to lock in resources.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lock in”
- Using 'lock on' instead of 'lock in'. 'Lock on' means to focus/target. *Incorrect: We locked on a good price. *Correct: We locked in a good price.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say 'lock in the rate' or 'lock the rate in'. However, if the object is a pronoun, it must go in the middle: 'lock it in'.
Yes. In business and personal planning, it's positive (securing a good deal/plan). It becomes negative when it describes an unwanted lack of freedom or choice.
'Commit to' is more general about promising to do something. 'Lock in' often implies a formal, binding mechanism (like a contract) that creates the commitment and makes reversal difficult.
Yes. It can mean a situation where one is contractually bound (e.g., a 24-month lock-in), or a type of social event where people are voluntarily confined in a venue overnight.
To commit to something for a certain period, or to secure an advantage/price for the future.
Lock in is usually informal to neutral. common in business, finance, and everyday situations involving commitment. in register.
Lock in: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒk ˈɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɑːk ˈɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lock in and load up. (play on 'lock and load')”
- “Locked in a battle/struggle.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine putting a valuable item in a safe and LOCKING the door. You've 'locked in' its safety and guaranteed it won't be lost.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMITMENT/STABILITY IS PHYSICAL IMMOBILITY (being locked in place).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what is the primary purpose of 'locking in' a rate?