seal off

verb

sealed off; sealing off; seals off

transitive verb

: to close tightly

Examples of seal 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.
By 2019, authorities sealed off the group's worship facility in Beijing, forcing the congregation to meet in smaller groups and at different locations, Gu said. — ABC News, 9 Nov. 2026 Seal Any Holes Bossel’s number one tip for keeping mice out of your kitchen naturally is to seal off any possible entry points. — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026 And their escape routes are narrowing; since Kim sealed off the borders during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of North Korean defectors reaching South Korea has plummeted. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a sweeping operation in the gunmen’s Hebron neighborhood, while Israel moved to seal off the city and prepare broader West Bank closures. — Shlomo Mor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seal off

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seal off was in 1931

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seal off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seal%20off. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

seal off

verb
: to close tightly
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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