shutoff

shut·off | \ ˈshət-ˌȯf

How to pronounce shutoff (audio)

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Definition of shutoff

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something (such as a valve) that shuts off

2 : stoppage, interruption

shut off

shut off; shutting off; shuts off

Definition of shut off (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to close off : separate —usually used with fromshut off from the rest of the world

2a : to cut off (a flow or passage) : stop shuts off the oxygen supply

b : to stop the operation of (something, such as a machine) shut the motor off

intransitive verb

: to cease operating : stop shuts off automatically

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about shutoff

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Examples of shutoff in a Sentence

Noun the utility company threatened them with the shutoff of electricity if the bills weren't paid Verb threatened to shut off peace talks if the other side kept making unreasonable demands shut off the computer to save electricity

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun For the first time ever CPP customers will be able to schedule a hearing before an impartial panel to challenge a shutoff or dispute a bill. — Laura Johnston, cleveland, "Ohio coronavirus cases are suddenly surging: This Week in the CLE," 23 June 2020 Texas’s utility regulator halted residential water and power shutoffs Thursday after pressure from consumer advocates hoping to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Kyle Arnold, Dallas News, "Texas halts water and power disconnects amid wave of layoffs," 26 Mar. 2020 But their shutoffs have affected far fewer people and been much shorter. — Washington Post, "PG&E boss says it wasn’t fully ready for California outages," 20 Nov. 2019 The utility has faced intense criticism for its power shutoffs in recent months, which have left entire communities across Northern California without electricity for days at a time. — Tatiana Sanchez, SFChronicle.com, "PG&E warns of potential power shutoffs in Northern California," 17 Nov. 2019 Pacific Gas & Electric turned off power in 29 counties Tuesday, marking its fourth shutoff this month and third in the last week. — Kristin Lam, USA TODAY, "'It takes one ember ... to start another brush fire': Extreme winds put California fire officials on high alert," 30 Oct. 2019 On Saturday morning, PG&E conducted its first public safety power shutoff of the year in Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties where about 1,700 customers were impacted. — Will Houston, The Mercury News, "PG&E transformer sparked fire on Mount Tamalpais, fire officials say," 11 June 2019 At a time when hand washing has been deemed an essential way to prevent the spread of the virus, especially to those at higher risk, people across the city are experiencing water shutoffs for not paying utilities. — Erin Corbett, refinery29.com, "Gretchen Whitmer Reveals The Real Reason Michigan Is Facing A Coronavirus Crisis," 2 Apr. 2020 As the pandemic intensifies, individual communities and companies around the country are making the call to institute moratoriums on water shutoffs. — Talia Buford, ProPublica, "Some Towns Still Haven’t Halted Utility Shut-offs for Unpaid Water Bills During Coronavirus, Even as Federal Lawmakers Demand It," 13 Mar. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The city has shut off water service to thousands with overdue bills. — Joe Guillen, Freep.com, "From 1967 to George Floyd: Detroit activists connect the dots to fight inequality," 14 June 2020 During warm-up laps, the 40 cars pulled to a stop in front of the empty grandstands and shut off their engines. — NBC News, "Bubba Wallace wants NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag," 9 June 2020 Invoking a public disaster code, the U.S. borders have been shut off to asylum-seekers. — Silvia Foster-frau, ExpressNews.com, "Immigrant mother: ‘They tried to separate my daughter from me’," 4 June 2020 Medical care for non-coronavirus patients has basically been shut off due to a lack of resources. — Time, "Bodies Are Being Left in Hospital Beds in Mumbai as Coronavirus Overwhelms India’s Financial Capital," 1 June 2020 After attempting to organise a community response for Turner, something inside of me shut off. — Nylah Burton, refinery29.com, "In Videos Of Racist Killings, Who Is Behind The Camera Matters," 30 May 2020 Perhaps the biggest blow to the hospital came after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shut off federal funding to the hospital in December. — Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, "Chicago Lakeshore Hospital Closes After Years of Abuse Allegations but Cites “the COVID-19 Pandemic”," 17 Apr. 2020 There was one silver lining: Dolenga and his roommates shut off the utilities, saving themselves a little bit of money. — David Jesse, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan college students forced home by coronavirus stuck paying rent — for nothing," 13 Apr. 2020 Firefighters shut off the sprinklers and placed the group home on fire watch. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Smoky kitchen sets off sprinkler system in group home: Moreland Hills Police Blotter," 5 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shutoff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near shutoff

shut one's face

Statistics for shutoff

Last Updated

2 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Shutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutoff. Accessed 2 Jul. 2020.

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