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

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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 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 This time the ball goes off Wan'Dale Robinson and into the arms of Theo Johnson who runs all the way to the end zone. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 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
  • And rents, until recently, had jumped as demand for rentals explodes – because so few homes have been on the market.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
  • After Paul causes a boating accident that kills a young woman, the family explodes.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As the book progresses, some of the children in the photographs are older and more in control of their outward expression, but scraps of strangeness or incongruity always peek through.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Many things can and will transpire as the season progresses.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At 48 seconds, Tommy parks his truck and exits the vehicle.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Why, Warner Bros’ One Battle After Another, which is the one-eyed giant among the blind with a $23 million domestic opening and equally great critical and audience exits with 95% certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, an A CinemaScore and a great 74% definite recommend on PostTrak.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.
    EW.com, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Ana Moss, though legally blind, does things many folks with vision can’t.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Hemsworth gets one big monologue, describing a nightmare in which Ciri is happily dancing with Death, and does a fine job with it.
    Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The parade departs from the temple, on Tierra Buena Road, and heads onto Butte House Road.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • An American Airlines Airbus A321 taxis at San Diego International Airport as a United Airlines airplane departs on August 24, 2024 in San Diego, California.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Despite her better judgment, Sarah pops the tape into the VCR, and we’re introduced to a triptych of stories featuring Art the Clown.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The unknown male then points the gun, and an image of Trump wearing a crown with red crosshairs on his forehead pops up.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Queen of All Hallows' Eve — who not only throws an all-out shindig for her famous friends but also notoriously goes for broke with her costumes, too — spent all day posting hints about this year's look ahead of the big reveal.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Wild’s power play goes scoreless The Wild gave up a power-play goal in the third period and went 0 for 4 on the power play with three shots on goal, including two scoreless ones in the first period with a chance to extend their lead.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Goes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goes%20off. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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