She had locked something away vs Store

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

She had locked something away

Top 3,000 (common)

Store

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Store
 She had locked something awayStore
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //lɒk əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //lɑk əˈweɪ//🇬🇧 /["/stɔː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɔːr/"]/
MeaningTo keep something safe in a secure place.A place where you can buy things.
ExampleShe had locked something away in her drawer, hiding it from prying eyes.I need to go to the store to buy some groceries.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechnoun
Collocationslock away secrets, lock away valuables, lock away memories, lock away feelings, lock away itemsbig, large, major, chain, go to, visit, close, carry something, offer something, sell something, chain, account, card, at a/​the store, in a/​the store, the back of a/​the store, the front of a/​the store, big, large, major, chain, go to, visit, close, carry something, offer something, sell something, chain, account, card, at a/​the store, in a/​the store, the back of a/​the store, the front of a/​the store, good, great, large, have, keep, build up, cupboard, room, store of, cold, dry, temporary, hold something, in a/​the store, store for
Antonyms-sell, dispose, discard
Common mistakesConfusing 'lock away' with 'lock up' (which can imply locking a person in)., Using it without an object (e.g., 'She had locked away' is incomplete).Confused with the verb 'store' meaning to keep something., Saying 'the stores' when referring to multiple items instead of multiple places., Using 'store' in formal contexts where 'retail outlet' might be more appropriate.
Usage notesUse when referring to physically securing an object. Avoid in very casual contexts. Common in narratives about safety or secrecy.Use 'store' for general places to buy things, like grocery stores or clothing stores. Avoid using it for more specific terms like 'boutique' or 'supermarket'.

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She had locked something away
Store

Frequently asked questions: She had locked something away vs Store

What's the difference between She had locked something away and Store?

She had locked something away: To keep something safe in a secure place. Store: A place where you can buy things.

Which is more common: She had locked something away and Store?

Store is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

She had locked something away: She had locked something away in her drawer, hiding it from prying eyes. Store: I need to go to the store to buy some groceries.

Can I use She had locked something away and Store interchangeably?

Not always. She had locked something away and Store are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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