turnoff

noun turn·off \ ˈtərn-ˌȯf \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

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

See turnoff defined for English-language learners

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

Stay away: His small frame and heavy college workload could be turnoffs for some teams.

— colleen kane, chicagotribune.com, "NFL draft position preview: Running backs," 12 Apr. 2018
Of those, an average of about 18 — or roughly .09 percent — take the Castella turnoff.

— tom stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Castle Crags’ spectacular little seen world," 5 Apr. 2018
The biggest turnoff for a first date is apparently showing up in something wrinkled, which 66 percent of people agreed was a no-no.

— janine puhak, Fox News, "Biggest first date fashion deal-breakers," 21 Mar. 2018
But twang is no longer a turnoff, as streaming services amass users across the globe and push the radio-centric genre into new markets.

— melinda newman, Billboard, "Here's How Country Music Can Grow Overseas: Touring (a Lot) & Leaving the 'Pickup Truck' Song in the States," 1 Mar. 2018
These antibodies don't have a turnoff mechanism either, so the gland continues to make thyroid hormones instead of self-regulating.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "What Is Graves' Disease? Symptoms and Treatment Options to Know About," 26 Feb. 2018
An amateurish turnoff like this ain’t the way to do it.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "One duo shines amid Rep Lab experiments," 16 Feb. 2018
Blair Valley turnoff is 6 miles east of state Route 78 on the Great Southern Overland State Route, also known as County Road S-2.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hike, bighorn sheep, Gold Rush Days," 17 Feb. 2018
Sperandio thinks that also can be a turnoff for viewers who are more accustomed to contemporary, abstract works.

— molly glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "Exhibit explores comic-book curiosities known as microcuentos," 24 Jan. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

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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

Recent Examples of turn off from the Web

The new policy requires officers to verbalize their reason for turning off the microphone.

— NBC News, "Sacramento police unveil new body cam policy after deadly shooting, protests," 11 Apr. 2018
The new policy requires officers to verbalize their reason for turning off the microphone.

— Washington Post, "Sacramento police issue new directive on muting body cameras," 10 Apr. 2018
The new policy requires officers to verbalize their reason for turning off the microphone.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Sacramento police issue new bodycam directive after Stephon Clark shooting," 10 Apr. 2018
Others, like Arendt, didn’t see sexism and patriarchy as the pressing political issue of her time, and Didion, for instance, was turned off by what was somewhat unfairly labeled a monolithic movement.

— anna diamond, Smithsonian, "Writing in the Public Eye, These Women Brought the 20th Century Into Focus," 4 Apr. 2018
People turned off by the increase will (wisely!) move their trips to the offseason, where prices will remain at current levels, crowds are thinner, lodging is easier to find, and the scenery is just as stunning.

— j. weston phippen, Outside Online, "Zinke Rolls Over on National Park Fee Hikes," 4 Apr. 2018
Many fans believe that this treatment is what may have lead to Selena turning off her Instagram comments for the photos from the March.

— kara nesvig, Teen Vogue, "Selena Gomez Turned off Instagram Comments for Photos from March for Our Lives," 28 Mar. 2018
The noise was originating from a car alarm that reports said had been turned off by the time officers arrived.

— brian lisik/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Suspicious person call leads to drunken driving arrest: Medina Police Blotter," 26 Mar. 2018
Exorcise them by turning off Ads based on my use of websites and apps.

— brian barrett, WIRED, "The Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy," 21 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of turn off

1564

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

turn off Synonyms

TURNOFF Defined for English Language Learners

turnoff

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