go off

Definition of go offnext
1
as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of go off Louisville, Kentucky — The power had just gone off and the ground was shaking at Grade A Auto Parts when the owner received a panicked video call from his chief financial officer. Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025 Joseph and courthouse staff also did not know of the District Court rule to not go off-the-record during hearings, barring limited exceptions. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025 She and Kelce got engaged in August, and going off of what the musician has previously said about her wedding plans, Teller and Sperry definitely have a good chance of being on the guest list. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025 If things go off track, take a deep breath, change the subject and try again the next day. Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for go off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go off
Verb
  • Propane tanks are actually more likely to explode due to excessive heat in the summer.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Autumn is when the park really explodes in color.
    Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Capricorn December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Nine people remain missing after a UPS plane departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday crashed in a ball of flames, killing at least 12 people.
    Megan Forrester, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Since the father wanted to depart the country with his son, ICE attempted to work with IPS to get his son out of school before his flight.
    Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors said that during an interview with investigators after his arrest, Cole confessed to constructing the devices, filling them with explosive powder and setting the timers to detonate.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
  • In a post on Telegram, Kiper said a two-story residential building was damaged and that a drone hit an apartment on the 17th floor of a high-rise building without detonating.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • By the end of this eerily melodic, strangely beautiful song about doing nothing, Tyler dreams wistfully of loitering in a parking lot.
    Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
  • That’s one of the most beautiful things about doing the play right now, that there are so many people coming who have never been to a play before, especially young people.
    Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Thankfully, Tia yet again rises to the occasion and smooths the fight over and helps Gizelle and Keiarna, at the very least, return to a common ground while Wendy exits stage left.
    Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The driver, later identified as Sampson, continued to drive recklessly at high speed and exited the interstate and headed into downtown Ybor City.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • No injuries were reported after the incident, but airport staff who witnessed the landing described hearing multiple popping sounds as the wheels hit the tarmac followed by visible smoke.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The year before that, massive floating clown heads popped up in Downtown Crossing alleys, giving people a reason to look up from their phones.
    Neal Riley, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, the reaction proceeds through a cascade of events.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
  • In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Go off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go%20off. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

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