goes off

present tense third-person singular of go off
1
as in explodes
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

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 goes off But the day to day starts every time your alarm clock goes off. — Scott Snider, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Enzo abruptly goes off-script, so to speak, and quits the Devillard estate to try his hand at mussel farming and pouf! — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 But even from the start, before Mona properly goes off the deep end, The Debut starts inuring us to her heightened perspective. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026 Drain the corn into a large colander set in the sink when the timer goes off. — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026 When Rhaenyra seems less than enthusiastic about helping him, Baela really goes off on her. — Judy Berman, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 Just as Pascal orders all of the firefighters to evacuate because the roof threatens to collapse, a major explosion goes off inside the structure. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026 The heavy use of VAR has also interrupted the flow of games by halting matches that weren’t meant to be halted, leaving everyone standing on the field while the referee goes off to watch TV, sometimes for minutes at a time. — Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 Even when Romanzy goes off on how stupid and ugly Caleb is — and gossips that his parents abandoned him because something must be wrong with him — Mary goes along with it. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goes off
Verb
  • Finally, extremely drunk, the young writer explodes in rage, then passes out.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • When the gang war that’s been building all along between the Greasers and the Socs finally explodes in the second act, the violence is conveyed through movement, lighting, sound and just all around scenic brilliance.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Architectural plans, programming and development milestones for the center will be announced as the project progresses.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Carroll said the team also places a greater focus on recovery, nutrition and reducing physical demands as the season progresses.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Afternoon temperatures will tumble from the lower 80s back into the 40s and 50s overnight with breezy winds, as the rain slowly exits during the overnight hours.
    — Cutter Martin, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Another customer who was standing in between the singer and employee at the register during the showdown appears to look around in disbelief at what just happened after the hitmaker exits.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Forever Home FilmNation Entertainment, the Mediapro Studio A corpse beneath an idyllic home detonates this domestic thriller adapted from Graham Norton’s bestseller.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The missile, called a PrSM—for precision-strike missile—detonates midair and spreads thousands of small tungsten fragments in all directions.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And a reminder that these millionaires are playing a child’s game, because no one relishes it with quite the joy and verve and passion and emotion and occasional tantrum like Doncic does.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By default, the dial does nothing other than serve as the pairing button.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Guests who don’t fancy a hike can take the cable car, which departs from the hotel and goes straight to the Alpe di Siusi viewpoint.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Patterson departs after missing two of his nine field goal attempts and one of his nine extra point attempts this season.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Out of his pocket Kip pops what looks like a top-hat fragment.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The two talk about the smoke shop that opened nearby, and Bennett pops her head in the door to take a look around.
    — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • According to Tarantino, however, the reference goes way deeper.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Bel glows with a kind of rude Californian health and goes once a week for chiropractic adjustments, including of her jaw.
    — Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Goes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goes%20off. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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