1
: a place where one turns off
especially
: exit sense 4
2
: one that causes loss of interest or enthusiasm
the music was a turnoff
3
: a turning off
turned off; turning off; turns off
1
: to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control
turn the water off
2
: to cause to lose interest : bore
economics turns me off
also
: to evoke a negative feeling in
5
6
7
a
: to remove (material) by the process of turning
b
: to shape or produce by turning
1
: to deviate from a straight course or from a main road
turn off into a side road
3
: to lose interest : withdraw
Synonyms
Examples of turnoff in a Sentence
Noun
His strong cologne was a real turnoff.
Verb
that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while
turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left
Recent Examples on the Web
Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024
Related article Manila’s traffic is so bad Coldplay wrote a song about it
China’s infamous censorship laws can also be a major turnoff for Western acts.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
Interestingly, the second-biggest financial turnoff differed for men and women.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2023
Turn right and go 2 miles to the turnoff for Forest Road 152/Dry Creek trailhead on the right and continue a short distance to the parking area.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024
Who are these slobs?) 35% found plastic utensils and dinnerware a turnoff.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024
Cold Spring Tavern Old Hollywood and a ranch that razors built
The off-piste adventure begins by exiting the 101/Ventura Freeway in Calabasas, at the Valley Circle turnoff.
—Eric A. Taub, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2023
Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody: While the crossbody option was nice, the straps were uncomfortable and the fabric tore easily—two turnoffs, especially considering the price.
—Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
Chief Critics The Academy has tried to save its ceremony in recent years from declining viewership, and some inside and out of the Academy reportedly fear the ceremony’s political moments have been a turnoff for viewers.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023
Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, there’s not a button to press to turn off the use of data for AI training.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Across the industry, streamers turned off the development-money tap as executives became risk-averse.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
When the call is complete, the camera will turn off, and the TV will turn to its original state.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024
In this YouTube video, an octopus successfully navigates her way through a series of traps and mazes to reach a feast of raw shrimp:
Two aquariums observed octopuses who learned to turn off the lights by spraying water at light bulbs to short-circuit the power, according to Scientific American.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Shopping Experience If a company’s website is disorganized or hard to use, we’re immediately turned off of that brand.
—Holistapet, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
But Sandra Bardas, a pharmacist who lives in Menlo Park, a Silicon Valley town 30 miles south of San Francisco, said the right to turn off work would be a welcome change.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and set the timer for 15 minutes (for large eggs).
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
Many homeowners might be tempted to tap into their equity and borrow against their homes, maybe to do a bathroom remodel, but the interest rates could be a turnoff.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024
Related article Manila’s traffic is so bad Coldplay wrote a song about it
China’s infamous censorship laws can also be a major turnoff for Western acts.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
Interestingly, the second-biggest financial turnoff differed for men and women.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2023
Turn right and go 2 miles to the turnoff for Forest Road 152/Dry Creek trailhead on the right and continue a short distance to the parking area.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024
Who are these slobs?) 35% found plastic utensils and dinnerware a turnoff.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024
Cold Spring Tavern Old Hollywood and a ranch that razors built
The off-piste adventure begins by exiting the 101/Ventura Freeway in Calabasas, at the Valley Circle turnoff.
—Eric A. Taub, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2023
Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody: While the crossbody option was nice, the straps were uncomfortable and the fabric tore easily—two turnoffs, especially considering the price.
—Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
Chief Critics The Academy has tried to save its ceremony in recent years from declining viewership, and some inside and out of the Academy reportedly fear the ceremony’s political moments have been a turnoff for viewers.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023
Verb
Finally, after being interrupted several times, Wolverine lost his temper and addressed the camera with plenty of F-bombs imploring people to turn off their phones.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, there’s not a button to press to turn off the use of data for AI training.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Across the industry, streamers turned off the development-money tap as executives became risk-averse.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
When the call is complete, the camera will turn off, and the TV will turn to its original state.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024
In this YouTube video, an octopus successfully navigates her way through a series of traps and mazes to reach a feast of raw shrimp:
Two aquariums observed octopuses who learned to turn off the lights by spraying water at light bulbs to short-circuit the power, according to Scientific American.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Shopping Experience If a company’s website is disorganized or hard to use, we’re immediately turned off of that brand.
—Holistapet, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
But Sandra Bardas, a pharmacist who lives in Menlo Park, a Silicon Valley town 30 miles south of San Francisco, said the right to turn off work would be a welcome change.
—Heather Knight, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and set the timer for 15 minutes (for large eggs).
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turnoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near turnoff
Cite this Entry
“Turnoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnoff. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
turnoff
1 of 2 noun
turn·off
ˈtər-ˌnȯf 
1
: a place where one turns off (as from a road)
2
: something that causes loss of interest or enjoyment
the music was a turnoff
turn off
2 of 2 verbˌtər-ˈnȯf,
ˈtər-
1
: to turn aside
turned off onto a side road
2
: to stop by or as if by turning a control
turn off the light
turn the alarm off
3
: to cause dislike or loss of interest
that sort of thing turns me off
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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