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.
Syria was closed off to us for so long. Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025 The 1950s setting lends new maturity to Safie’s breakneck style; Marty’s a hustler from the margins, standing in for any determined artist during an era when America seemed simultaneously alive with economic possibility and closed off to outsider thinking. David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025 Instead of closing off rooms, find energy savings by sealing leaks around doors and windows or by adding insulation. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025 Another team can fit him in better because of the DH spot being totally closed off in LA. Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 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 19 Dec. 2025.

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