1
as in exploded
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 progressed
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 departed
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 went off
In North Carolina, one high school graduation video went viral after a valedictorian went off-script to deliver a message to her classmates about using their voices to speak out about issues including immigration enforcement.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 June 2026
The first targeted a vehicle, while the second went off as rescuers responded to the blast in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, senior police official Yasir Afridi said, adding both were controlled remotely.
—ABC News, 20 June 2026
Chekhov’s guns that hung on the wall but never went off.
—Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
In the seventh minute, McKennie’s pass went off Paraguayan defender Damian Bobadilla into the net for an own goal.
—Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Alarm bells went off in the seventh inning when Santiago Espinal was sent up to pinch-hit for Ohtani – who hit his 13th home run of the season earlier in the game – with two runners on in a close game.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
First, Commandment went off at roughly the same price in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, which had a deeper field.
—Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
And then Daniel Durtson viciously went off on Taylor in the BB bathroom.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
How Texas Tech got here Texas Tech brought its bats out to the Lubbock Regional and went off for 34 runs in three wins.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 June 2026
The first targeted a vehicle, while the second went off as rescuers responded to the blast in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, senior police official Yasir Afridi said, adding both were controlled remotely.
—ABC News, 20 June 2026
Chekhov’s guns that hung on the wall but never went off.
—Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
In the seventh minute, McKennie’s pass went off Paraguayan defender Damian Bobadilla into the net for an own goal.
—Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Alarm bells went off in the seventh inning when Santiago Espinal was sent up to pinch-hit for Ohtani – who hit his 13th home run of the season earlier in the game – with two runners on in a close game.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
First, Commandment went off at roughly the same price in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, which had a deeper field.
—Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
And then Daniel Durtson viciously went off on Taylor in the BB bathroom.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
How Texas Tech got here Texas Tech brought its bats out to the Lubbock Regional and went off for 34 runs in three wins.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for went off
Verb
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The pace of rumors concerning Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s pending wedding exploded this week, helped in large part by a big-city mayor with loose lips.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
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When the match clock ran out and Mexico held on to its single-goal lead, the plaza exploded into cheers.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
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As the race progressed, Schlossberg received heavy media scrutiny by The New York Times with reports of high turnover inside his campaign and allegations of erratic behavior.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
-
As things progressed, sources say the studio brought in Reeves’ Toy Story 4 director to pitch his vision, which eventually led to Reeves thumbs up to star in the film.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Syed Asim Munir have departed Islamabad and are on their way to Switzerland where diplomatic discussions between the US and Iran are unfolding, a statement from the prime minister’s office said Sunday.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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The robot is being tested aboard the Song Hang research vessel, which departed on June 8 from Changxing Island near Shanghai.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Between 1946 and 1958, the United States military detonated 67 nuclear bombs around the island, raising questions about their lasting impact on marine life.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
-
Ripley then successfully detonated the charges, destroying the bridge and preventing the North Vietnamese army from advancing.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.—
Lizzie Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
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The two men then said Smollett paid them to stage the attack, and Smollett was charged with filing a false police report; the charges were later dropped after Smollett paid a fine and did community service.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The company exited bankruptcy on April 1, 2024.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
20 June 2026
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Talk to business owners who have already exited.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Fans shrieked and hollered as every player in the realmwide war — Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Prince Daemon (Matt Smith), the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint) and his nemesis Lohar (Abigail Thorn) — popped up.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
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The game was delayed for seven minutes in the fourth when a camera installed in front of second base popped up through the grass.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order and ordered that the planes be turned around, but Justice Department attorneys said his oral instructions directing the flight to be returned were defective, and the deportations proceeded as planned.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
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The tensions around the negotiations The negotiations proceeded under a cloud of escalating tensions.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Went off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/went%20off. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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