1
as in exploding
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
as in progressing
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 departing
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 going off
In Finnmark, skiing may offer an additional challenge — going off-piste by going ski touring.
—
Susan B. Barnes, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
She and Kelce got engaged in August, and going off of what the musician has previously said about her wedding plans, Teller and Sperry definitely have a good chance of being on the guest list.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
After Hedda burns Lovborg’s manuscript and Lovborg is shot by a pistol accidentally going off in her own hand (a gun gifted to her by Hedda, one of General Gabler’s ornate firearms), Tesman and Thea team up to attempt to rewrite Lovborg’s manuscript by hand.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
The two hadn’t been in touch much after going off to different colleges, but ran into each other by total coincidence at a 50-mile race in Big Bear in 2024.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Speaking of the penalty the Ferrari driver was handed, F1's governing body, the FIA, stated that Hamilton's argument of going off track to manage his brake failure situation was not justifiable.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Suddenly, fireworks started going off overhead.
—Autumn Barnes, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025
Tallinn blamed Russian jamming measures for the craft going off course.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Billy awoke to the sound of another alarm going off in the plant.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Susan B. Barnes, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
She and Kelce got engaged in August, and going off of what the musician has previously said about her wedding plans, Teller and Sperry definitely have a good chance of being on the guest list.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
After Hedda burns Lovborg’s manuscript and Lovborg is shot by a pistol accidentally going off in her own hand (a gun gifted to her by Hedda, one of General Gabler’s ornate firearms), Tesman and Thea team up to attempt to rewrite Lovborg’s manuscript by hand.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
The two hadn’t been in touch much after going off to different colleges, but ran into each other by total coincidence at a 50-mile race in Big Bear in 2024.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Speaking of the penalty the Ferrari driver was handed, F1's governing body, the FIA, stated that Hamilton's argument of going off track to manage his brake failure situation was not justifiable.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Suddenly, fireworks started going off overhead.
—Autumn Barnes, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025
Tallinn blamed Russian jamming measures for the craft going off course.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Billy awoke to the sound of another alarm going off in the plant.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going off
Verb
-
The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Many of them are desperately struggling to protect their homes – for some, their only source of wealth – in the face of exploding rents and threats of eviction.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But this topic in particular — a quarterback progressing through his reads — really doesn’t work without a functioning offensive line.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
According to Fayez, Neom has attracted significant investment in infrastructure and planning and construction are progressing.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Colin Walsh will succeed Kyle Leahy, who will be departing Glossier at the end of the year, as the beauty brand’s next CEO.—
Vogue Business Team,
Vogue,
4 Nov. 2025
-
After departing the Grateful Dead in 1979, the Godchauxs formed the Heart of Gold Band, which was cut short by Keith’s tragic death in a car accident the following year.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In between detonating bombs hidden in Christmas presents and disfiguring the entire police force, Art sets his sights on the Shaw family.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In July 2011, a Norwegian neo-Nazi went on a rampage, detonating a bomb in Oslo, Norway, before opening fire at a Labour Party youth camp on nearby Utoya Island.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But that’s what a player should be doing.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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This year, the majority of players have been wearing poppies on their shirts from October 23 through to November 11, though individuals are free to decide against doing so.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Surveillance video shows two masked men entering through an interior hallway of the storage facility before exiting into an outdoor area enclosed by a metal fence.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Prescott, who spent three years as an external adviser to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee before exiting in June, raised questions with the committee, BBC executives, and the corporation’s board.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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What To Know In , the Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island are expected to see blowing snow and strong southeasterly winds from early Sunday morning through the afternoon.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Its share price collapsed a few months after going public, losing a third of its value since the start of the year before Monday's news.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
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The honks of wild Canada geese, for instance, fresh out of the Arctic and now high in the clouds going south, signal a change in seasons for me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Going off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20off. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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