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
Joe has schizophrenia and sometimes goes off his meds.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
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
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goes off
Verb
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Security video footage posted to Barrera’s Facebook page shows someone igniting and stoking flames inside the car, then fleeing before the vehicle is engulfed and eventually explodes.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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The episode ends abruptly after the building explodes — with everyone but Boden still inside.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On Saturday, temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-40s, with a chance of light, wintry precipitation in the morning transitioning to rain as the day progresses.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
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Further updates will be provided as the recall effort progresses.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hardee’s, the fast-food chain that has spent decades anchoring exits off Southern interstates, is officially back in NASCAR.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Once that system exits Wednesday night, precipitation chances decrease, but the weather turns increasingly harsh.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Des Moines Register,
20 Jan. 2026
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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Because that’s what Lidia does.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
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And so does NBCUniversal, which will air all three events on NBC and its streaming service Peacock.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The question now is will the Chargers’ defense be as sound and productive if defensive coordinator Jesse Minter departs for one of the many head coaching positions around the NFL?—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
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House of Fear also departs from its predecessors in that there can be only one winner.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The entire coastline pops up—as if out of nowhere.—
Riza Cruz,
Vogue,
16 Jan. 2026
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Rue is now in Mexico and still in debt to Laurie (Martha Kelly), who pops up to remind her of that open tab after all the drug drama in season 2.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 4,000-square-foot Sky Terrace Penthouse goes a step further with a private studio equipped with a Peloton bike, Echelon Reflect fitness mirror, and Technogym bench.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
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The fuzzy shearling interior and buttery soft suede outer is worth all the hype, and the chestnut hue goes with legit everything.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Goes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goes%20off. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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