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
Relevance
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
The Seahawks won those shootouts, but that was mostly due to their special teams whipping the Rams and their offense going off, especially in the Super Bowl qualifier.
—
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
In the middle of the night, grenades are going off, people are getting shot, people are screaming, dogs are barking, the whole thing.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Think more even heat, better tasting meals, and less chance of smoke detectors going off mid-dinner, among other benefits.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The footage shows an alarm going off on an iPhone, with a gray cat instantly jumping up and using its paws to turn it off.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
But the open kitchen concept, with local produce and jars of pickles on display for guests to touch, taste, and smell, makes going off-menu just as enticing—just ask the chef for suggestions.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Kieran Culkin going off script to call out Sean Penn’s no-show — great gear.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
The same alarm that fired when Alex noticed he wasn’t included in lunch plans at work is now going off in a room full of strangers.
—Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors also played several minutes of surveillance video from the facility, showing fireworks going off along the tree line next to the building.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
In the middle of the night, grenades are going off, people are getting shot, people are screaming, dogs are barking, the whole thing.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Think more even heat, better tasting meals, and less chance of smoke detectors going off mid-dinner, among other benefits.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The footage shows an alarm going off on an iPhone, with a gray cat instantly jumping up and using its paws to turn it off.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
But the open kitchen concept, with local produce and jars of pickles on display for guests to touch, taste, and smell, makes going off-menu just as enticing—just ask the chef for suggestions.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Kieran Culkin going off script to call out Sean Penn’s no-show — great gear.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
The same alarm that fired when Alex noticed he wasn’t included in lunch plans at work is now going off in a room full of strangers.
—Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors also played several minutes of surveillance video from the facility, showing fireworks going off along the tree line next to the building.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going off
Verb
-
Finally, should the government have more control over the exploding field of artificial intelligence?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
This means black holes go out with a bang, with lower-mass PBHs exploding at different epochs of the universe.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Early signs such as fever or weakness can resemble other viruses, before progressing to diarrhea and vomiting.—
Jane Weaver,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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The device provides physicians the ability to remotely listen to lung sounds and rapidly assess if a child’s asthma symptoms are progressing, so that escalation in care pathways can be determined.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In 2021, nine people died in a private plane crash after departing from Las Americas International Airport in the capital, Santo Domingo.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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This offer applies to new individual bookings made at standard rates on select sailings departing between now and May 10, 2028, excluding Celebrity river cruises, Galapagos sailings, and Alaska Cruisetours.—
Madison Flager,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Investigators found that Aliji intended to drive a Volkswagen Beetle equipped with fake police sirens and flashing blue lights toward crowds outside the venue before detonating explosives concealed inside a Red Bull can.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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Its material originated during October 1977 sessions at Memphis’ Ardent Studios, where the original lineup — the late Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox — worked with Chilton shortly before detonating the underground rock landscape.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Everybody knows that there’ll be certain parts that are doing okay, but a large part of the society in North Korea is very poor.—
Andrew McNicol,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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In coverage at Barron’s, Paul La Monica notes how Fidelity is probably doing this due to pressure from brokers like Robinhood that don’t have the same usual requirements.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The border officials will now track and record non-EU citizens entering and exiting the bloc.—
Simon Constable,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
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In Canoga Park, family, friends and residents gathered outside the apartment complex Sunday night where one woman was seen collapsing in tears after exiting an ambulance, according to reporting from KTLA News.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Whenever your outfit feels a little plain, these goodies will inject some welcome personality—all without blowing a hole in your budget.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
8 June 2026
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Another dramatic scene from West Virginia showed wind blowing a tent across a lawn, and dragging several people along with it, during a college basketball game between West Virginia University and Cal Poly.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Who's the person who keeps this thing going?—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
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Other award shows in the past have tried to come up with bits to keep acceptance speeches from going too long (much to mixed results).—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Going off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20off. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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