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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in progresses
to move forward along a course
the wedding went off without so much as a single glitch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in exits
to leave a place often for another
don't go off without telling us where we can find you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of goes off
Hindsight is 20/20, especially when a year goes off the rails.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Once your timer goes off, leave the oven door closed and set a new timer for 45 minutes.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
When his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), dies, Dunk knights himself Ser Duncan the Tall and goes off to compete in the tourney at Ashford Meadow to earn some coin, setting in motion certain events that will have ripple effects for the larger world.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
No concerns are raised, and the scheme goes off without a hitch.
—Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
When an alarm goes off, is snoozed, or is stopped.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Frimpong, who is expected to deputise wide on the right when Salah goes off to the Africa Cup of Nations in December, is 24.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Suddenly, in this endless stretch of sameness, a siren goes off.
—Carmen Maria MacHado, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Once your timer goes off, leave the oven door closed and set a new timer for 45 minutes.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
When his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), dies, Dunk knights himself Ser Duncan the Tall and goes off to compete in the tourney at Ashford Meadow to earn some coin, setting in motion certain events that will have ripple effects for the larger world.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
No concerns are raised, and the scheme goes off without a hitch.
—Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
When an alarm goes off, is snoozed, or is stopped.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Frimpong, who is expected to deputise wide on the right when Salah goes off to the Africa Cup of Nations in December, is 24.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Suddenly, in this endless stretch of sameness, a siren goes off.
—Carmen Maria MacHado, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goes off
Verb
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Mike, Hopper, and everyone else who loves her can only stand there and watch as the bomb goes off and the exotic matter explodes.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
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But if the geological plumbing is clogged, perhaps by silica minerals or rock debris, the pressure can build until the water explodes, vaporizing into steam and shooting boiling water, mud, rocks, and other debris into the air.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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But the reality for him, fairly or unfairly, is that if some of the habits persist, the smoke may turn to fire as the season progresses.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
As the show progresses, flashbacks also reveal parts of many of the characters' pasts.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Yet even as deal activity and exits start to increase, fundraising from institutional investors continues to fall due to a lack of distributions and poor performance in many funds.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
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As the former Prince Andrew exits his royal residence, Queen Elizabeth II's beloved corgis will still have a home.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Brother Dusk detonates explosives that shatter the cryonic chamber of Cleon clones, bodies raining down in blood and glass, before plucking a single embryo from the wreckage to bait Demerzel’s deepest programming.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Light Fixtures The dishwasher does an excellent job cleaning hard plastic and glass light fixtures.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
-
To a lesser extent, the Escalade also does battle with cars like the BMW X7, the Lexus LX, Mercedes GLS, and Range Rover, though, considering only American full-size luxury SUVs—as many buyers in the segment do—Escalade is well on top.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Kennedy departs, FN’s 2025 Company of the Year has appointed Justin Cupps as president of Wolverine Worldwide’s Work Group.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
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As Lorenzen departs, the Royals will reshape their starting rotation.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pull the linguistic thread a little further, and the word pops up as a mark of frustration.—
L. Carol Ritchie,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
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Not so in Canada, as the Blackhawks star pops up in commercials pretty frequently — including a CIBC ad with none other than Connor McDavid, which seems to be running on a loop north of the border.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And Biltmore Estate goes above and beyond on the festive front.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
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The first shift after all the previous staff shakeups goes surprisingly well.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Goes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goes%20off. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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