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.
Operations are ongoing and the area has been closed off, with a no-fly zone in place over Crans-Montana, police said. Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026 Police said many people were being treated for burns and that the area had been completely closed off, with a no-fly zone imposed over Crans-Montana. Emily Deletter, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026 Dozens of law enforcement officers remained on the scene as of midnight, and a portion of Northwest 17th Avenue had been closed off to the public for over four hours. Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025 Crime scene tape closed off the area for hours as detectives searched for evidence. CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for close off

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Cite this Entry

“Close off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20off. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

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