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

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 goes off Starling Marte goes off the batter's eye for his first Royals homer! Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026 This is where this game finally goes off the Weird and Wild rails. Jayson Stark, New York Times, 5 June 2026 Din removes his helmet to say goodbye to Grogu, and the child goes off with Luke to train as a Jedi. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2026 Race goes off at Hard Rock Stadium as drivers adjust to and grouse about Formula One’s major changes -- especially new hybrid engines with a 50-50 split of internal combustion and electric. Greg Cote may 3, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026 The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 The glitz and glamour of Tinseltown will be on full display at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, where the 98th Academy Awards are being held, but behind the scenes, there have also been intense preparations to ensure the high-profile event goes off without a hitch. Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026 At this point, the show really goes off the rails. Patrick R. Crowley, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026 Instead, her latest book goes off the rails. Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goes off
Verb
  • And then, when the World Cup rolls around, the base explodes.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 4 June 2026
  • Video shows moment Blue Origin rocket explodes What is the New Glenn rocket?
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Teams playing in these matches will be determined as the tournament progresses.
    Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
  • That said, collection rules can change, and individual circumstances vary, so borrowers who are struggling with federal student loan payments should try to review their options before delinquency progresses to default.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • The video ends after the man with the knife exits the train and sits on a bench on a platform.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
  • The Swiss, meanwhile, are still trying to push beyond a familiar ceiling after a string of World Cup exits in the last 16 or earlier.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But Cas9 is the actual machine that does the cutting.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2026
  • To get the true sense of where contemporary art in Florida stands in 2026, the Orlando survey show does just that.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh departs from the East Room of the White House after a swearing-in ceremony, May 22, 2026.
    Matt Peterson, CNBC, 3 June 2026
  • The system then recommends a bus departure time to ensure travelers arrive at the BOS terminal at least 45 minutes before their flight departs.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • The pit itself pops out easily with a finger poke and a gentle pull.
    Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
  • Cassie Blake is Marianne Dashwood, a party-girl-slash-influencer in a crop-top and cargo pants who says whatever pops into her head and doesn’t mind being messy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • The store is 8,000 square feet with plenty of options to choose from as far as merch goes, including jerseys, Funko Pops, soccer balls and more.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
  • In testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Sheila Clark, President and CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association, warned that the damage goes far beyond the theft of tax dollars.
    Wes Kilgore, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Goes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goes%20off. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster