go off

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

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 Crego, inspired by his Cuban heritage, said a lightning bolt went off when casting Gabby’s Gigi. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025 My first story time went off without a hitch. Nina West september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025 In the third, the B’s penalty kill got its first look of the preseason in the third period when Zadorov went off for crosschecking. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Sep. 2025 Suddenly, fireworks started going off overhead. Autumn Barnes, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for go off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go off
Verb
  • Perhaps one of the most interesting seed dispersal tactics is the ones that explode.
    Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
  • And earlier this month, Ellison briefly became the richest person in the world, eclipsing Elon Musk, as Oracle’s stock exploded on its prognostications for its booming AI business.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Past contestants have confirmed that pay increases as the season progresses.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The disease typically appears in mid-adulthood, causing problems with movement, memory, and mood, and usually progresses over 15-20 years.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Having left Netflix in August after nearly 14 years at the streamer, Friedlander serves as the successor to Vernon Sanders, who departed as the TV boss earlier in September.
    Selome Hailu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Air traffic controllers who handle flights arriving and departing the airport were plagued early this year by multiple communications and radar outages, leading to thousands of cancellations.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many of the bombs dropped during that period did not detonate, remaining hidden beneath the ground until construction or development work brings them to light.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The shell was safely detonated in the woods near a local compost area by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad the day it was found, authorities said.
    Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • What makes addressUSA different AddressUSA does more than guess.
    Mary Beth Eastman, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The oil and gas outsiders at Venture Global are doing so by upending project design norms, upsetting the Big Oil hierarchy, and dominating the nascent gas export industry.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey exited the game with what appears to be a significant hamstring injury.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Private equity buyout accounted for 40% of technology exits in the $100 million-$500 million range in Europe, roughly twice the proportion in the US.
    Aman Ghei, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Seider popped early in his career, making Detroit’s roster as a 20-year-old and showing a mix of offensive production, defensive tools that outran some dodgy five-on-five results and a rare-for-its-time mean streak.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Memorials began popping up all over the country.
    Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As the Blue Jays broadcast team stated, the ball bounces in fair territory and then proceeds to go over the base.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Another request from the administration filed earlier this month came with the case of the firing of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, with the Justice Department asking the Supreme Court to allow her to be fired while the case proceeds in lower courts.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Go off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on go off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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