variants
or less commonly off-line
1
: not connected to or served by a system and especially a computer or telecommunications system
One of the servers is offline.
… we suggest you keep a backup of your digital assets in offline storage, too. This storage can provide some cushioning if your online investment disappears in an instant.—
The Denver (Colorado) Post
The Denver (Colorado) Post
also
: done or occurring independently of such a system
our online and offline lives
offline activities/events
Movies and shows can be downloaded via the app for offline viewing. —Dan Auty
Dan Auty 2
of a person
: not available (as for communication) especially by way of the the Internet
She was having computer trouble, she told him, and would be offline for a while.—Mark Warren
Mark Warren
off-line
adverb
Examples of offline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Appreciation: Cultivating an appreciation for the diversity of human thought needs to happen offline, tech-less.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The retired brigadier general said the conversations among national security leaders through the messaging app should have been held offline due to their highly sensitive information and susceptibility to hackers or foreign adversaries.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025
TikTok briefly went offline on January 19 in compliance with the law, but service resumed after Trump's executive order took effect.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Gamergate was one of the earliest indications that what happened online could have major implications offline — and that a few people who understood the mechanics of the internet could manipulate it to advance a nefarious agenda.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
The fervor around the video series and the Closet truck underscores, ultimately, how few offline places there are today for movie lovers to come together.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
Schedule offline time, and use tools to track and limit screen time.
—Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 18 Mar. 2025
Simply put, offline accomplishments are no longer enough.
—Jon Michail, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
The application portal for businesses seeking recreational cannabis licenses went offline just hours before the midnight Friday deadline, prompting the Office of Cannabis Management to grant an extension until last night.
—Axios Twin Cities, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The retired brigadier general said the conversations among national security leaders through the messaging app should have been held offline due to their highly sensitive information and susceptibility to hackers or foreign adversaries.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025
TikTok briefly went offline on January 19 in compliance with the law, but service resumed after Trump's executive order took effect.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Gamergate was one of the earliest indications that what happened online could have major implications offline — and that a few people who understood the mechanics of the internet could manipulate it to advance a nefarious agenda.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
The fervor around the video series and the Closet truck underscores, ultimately, how few offline places there are today for movie lovers to come together.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
Schedule offline time, and use tools to track and limit screen time.
—Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 18 Mar. 2025
Simply put, offline accomplishments are no longer enough.
—Jon Michail, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
The application portal for businesses seeking recreational cannabis licenses went offline just hours before the midnight Friday deadline, prompting the Office of Cannabis Management to grant an extension until last night.
—Axios Twin Cities, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offline. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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