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
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
Republicans see these losses as alarms going off.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Where Dunk’s head is at, going off alone again.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Others, however, took issue with Kimmel’s comments immediately following Kirk’s assassination, and welcomed his show going off the air.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
But Trump’s penchant for going off-script has sometimes taken the focus off cost-of-living issues and his administration’s plans for how to combat it.
—Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Research suggests that going off the drugs earlier than this can increase the odds of relapsing.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Both Peter Thiel and David Sacks packed their bags right at the end of 2025, with the PayPal cofounder heading to Florida and the venture capitalist going off to Texas.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Jan. 2026
When Dedelow purchased the station with partnership investors in 2004, WJOB was saved from going off the airwaves and likely bankruptcy.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Republicans see these losses as alarms going off.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Where Dunk’s head is at, going off alone again.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Others, however, took issue with Kimmel’s comments immediately following Kirk’s assassination, and welcomed his show going off the air.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
But Trump’s penchant for going off-script has sometimes taken the focus off cost-of-living issues and his administration’s plans for how to combat it.
—Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Research suggests that going off the drugs earlier than this can increase the odds of relapsing.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Both Peter Thiel and David Sacks packed their bags right at the end of 2025, with the PayPal cofounder heading to Florida and the venture capitalist going off to Texas.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Jan. 2026
When Dedelow purchased the station with partnership investors in 2004, WJOB was saved from going off the airwaves and likely bankruptcy.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going off
Verb
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Meanwhile, Democratic states like Illinois, Washington and Massachusetts are exploding state spending and proposing tax hikes on top earners to fund an ever-growing array of programs and handouts.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Drafted at only 17, his career seemed to be progressing until 2022.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In recent months, Israel’s leadership has concluded that Hezbollah’s military rehabilitation is progressing faster than the IDF’s disruption efforts, according to two Israeli sources.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chenal joins his fellow departing Chiefs from the 2022 draft class, all of whom were part of the back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams in 2022 and 2023.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Lock your home before departing.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
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Experts also reported little evidence that Iran is actively resuming its efforts to enrich uranium, let alone building a bomb-detonating mechanism.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One way of doing this is to not give them building permits.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
How Often To Clean Baseboards Stein recommends dusting your baseboards monthly and then doing a deeper clean with vinegar every 3-4 months.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In photos from their viral outing, Brooks, Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane were seen exiting a gray van before strutting down the sidewalks of the Big Apple, earning double takes from passersby.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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When officers arrived, a suspect was exiting the home with his hands up and was taken into custody.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wind speeds were blowing at 12 mph in Grant, with gusts up to 29 mph, and Fairplay was seeing winds at 21 mph with gusts of up to 38 mph at the time of the closure, according to AccuWeather.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are the exceptions after literally going from unknowns to household names in, like, a week.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
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Chris Beard, the former UT coach, guided his team to an unlikely semifinal berth, but the early exit for a Texas squad that never really found its footing this season in going 18-14 had the Longhorns riding the bubble.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Going off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20off. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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