close off

phrasal verb

closed off; closing off; closes off
: to not allow (something) to be used for a period of time : close
The city closed off the beach to tourists.
Half of the museum was closed off while they made the changes.
sometimes used figuratively
He closes himself off to new experiences.

Examples of close off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The doll also functioned as an unlikely enabler, a bridge into a world often closed off to younger consumers. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 Now, the Government has not only closed off those pathways for new arrivals but changed the game for parolees already here. James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025 Austin police still have closed off the street at times when crowds have gotten too large and threaten to spill out into the street. Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 For Koreans on both sides of the border, reaching the peak has long been a rite of passage, but access has been closed off to most living in South Korea. Will Ripley, CNN Money, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for close off

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Close off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20off. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!