turnoff

play

noun turn·off \ ˈtərn-ˌȯf \

Definition of turnoff

1 :a place where one turns off; especially :exit 4

2 :one that causes loss of interest or enthusiasm

the music was a turnoff

3 :a turning off

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See turnoff defined for kids

Examples of turnoff in a Sentence

His strong cologne was a real turnoff.

Recent Examples of turnoff from the Web

Traffic was backed up early Thursday on U.S. Highway 26 west of Prineville, the last town before the turnoff for an eclipse-themed festival that’s expected to attract 30,000 people in a remote area with narrow, one-lane roads.

— gillian flaccus, The Seattle Times, "Eclipse traffic already heavy in central Oregon," 17 Aug. 2017
Silverado Vineyards is secluded on a woodsy knoll east of Yountville, so unobtrusive that motorists zipping by on Silverado Trail just below are apt to miss the turnoff to the road twisting up to the winery.

— mike dunne, sacbee, "Napa Valley’s Disneyland vibe isn’t Walt’s doing," 14 Aug. 2017
The fire started between the Greenbelt and the Boise River, near the Oregon Trail turnoff.

— ruth brown, idahostatesman, "Grass fire ignites near East Boise Foothills, quickly contained," 27 June 2017
And somehow, her over-the-top gender-normative attire isn’t a turnoff.

— jen gann, The Cut, "What Does Your Favorite Celebrity Baby Say About You?," 27 June 2017
Another turnoff was volatile trading, including a market meltdown in 2015 that led at one point to roughly half of stocks being suspended.

— kelvin chan, The Seattle Times, "MSCI adds China-listed stocks to index in long-awaited move," 20 June 2017
One will be a fire base camp off Idaho 75 south of the Redfish Lake turnoff.

— bill roberts, idahostatesman, "Expect traffic jams and big crowds for the Aug. 21 eclipse," 17 June 2017
The decision will turn on how disruptive turnoff would be, and the likelihood that the deficiencies in the Corps’ review can be remedied, Boasberg wrote in his ruling.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Federal judge rejects Dakota Access Pipeline permits, calls for do-over," 14 June 2017
Cruise plays Nick, wisecracking American belligerence incarnate, and therefore, in 2017 America, at least, an instant turnoff.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'The Mummy': Tom Cruise stricken with a pain in the sarcophagus," 7 June 2017

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

First Known Use of turnoff

circa 1852

Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice

turn off

verb

Definition of turn off

transitive verb

1 :to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control

turn the water off

2 :to cause to lose interest :bore

economics turns me off

; also :to evoke a negative feeling in

3 a :dismiss, discharge

b :to dispose of :sell

4 :deflect, evade

5 :produce, accomplish

6 :hang 1b

7 a :to remove (material) by the process of turning

b :to shape or produce by turning

intransitive verb

1 :to deviate from a straight course or from a main road

turn off into a side road

2 a British :to turn bad :spoil

b :to change to a specified state :become

3 :to lose interest :withdraw

See turn off defined for kids

Examples of turn off in a Sentence

that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while
turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left

First Known Use of turn off

1564

turn off Synonyms

Synonyms

gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, disgust

Antonyms

employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Related Words

displease, distress; appall (also appal), disquiet, horrify; affront, insult, offend, outrage, shock

Near Antonyms

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, draw, enchant, entice, fascinate, lure, pull, seduce, tempt; delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle; enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance; appeal (to), interest, intrigue

TURNOFF Defined for English Language Learners

turnoff

play

noun

Definition of turnoff for English Language Learners

: a road that allows vehicles to leave a highway
: something that you dislike or that causes you to stop being interested in or attracted to someone or something