go off

verb

went off; gone off; going off; goes off
Synonyms of go offnext

intransitive verb

1
a
b
of a gun : shoot sense 1
2
: to burst forth or break out suddenly or noisily
3
: to go forth, out, or away : leave
went off to join the army
4
: to undergo decline or deterioration
5
: to follow the expected or desired course : proceed
The party went off well.
6
: to make a characteristic noise : sound
could hear the alarm going off
7
: to stop working
All the lights suddenly went off.

Examples of go off in a Sentence

specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off the wedding went off without so much as a single glitch
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong. Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 June 2026 The pick-up truck driver lost control and went off the roadway, where the vehicle then overturned. Jose Fabian, CBS News, 28 June 2026 Story’s time in Boston has been marked by setbacks, and this season has been the latest to go off the rails. Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 Shohei Ohtani went off the plate to poke an opposite-field, run-scoring single for a 1-0 lead. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for go off

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of go off was in 1560

Cite this Entry

“Go off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20off. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

go off

verb
1
2
: to burst forth or break out suddenly or noisily
3
: to take place : proceed
the dance went off as planned

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