went off

Definition of went offnext
past tense of go off
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 went off But as the season progressed, the [shudders] discourse really went off the rails. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026 The firework went off inside a wooden locker in the fourth-floor research laboratory, which is part of the Department of Neurobiology, according to an affidavit. Michael Dorgan , Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025 At that time, one gun went off, killing the detention sergeant, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer told The Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025 In their fourth career NBA games, LeBron James scored seven points, Luka Doncic 21, Michael Jordan 25, Dirk Nowitzki 8, Tim Duncan 19, and Cooper Flagg went off for 2. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025 Jefferson was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry heading north on Arkansas 53 when the vehicle went off the roadway and collided with a tree, the report says. Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2025 Susan De Marco was nervous to reenter the workforce when her third son went off to kindergarten. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025 Jim Jones went off on the G-Unit member for those comments and more on the latest episode of Artist 2 Artist. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2025 The October 13 edition of Raw went off the air with Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman turning on their Vision leader, Seth Rollins. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for went off
Verb
  • Though the popularity of Black hairstyles like braids has exploded over the past three decades, braids in all of their diverse presentations are more than a stylish hair trend.
    Ambreia Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Zverev exploded in anger believing that Alcaraz was suffering only from cramp, and so should not have received a full timeout.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Both reactors progressed rapidly compared with earlier nuclear projects in China.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Bassist Preston Shrewbridge was encouraged to play louder and tougher as the song progressed, counter to some of country’s more standard recordings.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The editorial page editor resigned and numerous columnists and reporters departed for other publications.
    David Folkenflik, NPR, 30 Jan. 2026
  • President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.
    Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • On Unknown Pleasures, the producer had taken Joy Division’s dense goth-punk sound into a frozen field and detonated it.
    Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
  • More recently, an al Qaeda operative and suspected mastermind behind the 2000 USS Cole bombing — in which suicide bombers sidled up alongside a US warship, waved to the sailors and then detonated explosives — was charged with perfidy, among other crimes.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.
    Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
  • 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
  • Officers then exited through another door and began kicking their way through the barricade.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Eventually, three people exited the home and were taken into custody, the complaint said.
    Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • All of a sudden, this idea just popped into my head to put the film in the future, with no human beings left, and hardly any animal life, basically only insects.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Noma has previously popped up in Tulum and Kyoto.
    Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As the weekend proceeded, some prominent MAGA media writers and hosts pointed out the contradictions and added skepticism about the government’s claims.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The group breezed through Morgan’s study, where the walls were covered in red silk damask, and proceeded to the library.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Went off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/went%20off. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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