go off

verb

went off; gone off; going off; goes off

intransitive verb

1
2
: to burst forth or break out suddenly or noisily
3
: to go forth, out, or away : leave
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
Phrases
go off the deep end
1
: to enter recklessly on a course
2
: to become very much excited

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 The club went off the board and gave Mookie Betts an extended run there early this season, but after an injury of his own he was returned to his more familiar right field station. Tony Blengino, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 So with menu options in hand, Rachel went off to plan and execute a delicious meal with impeccable vibes. Bon Appétit, 16 Oct. 2024 So Stowell went off the grid, skiing with Charlie Jennings, his best friend and agent. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2024 Her boyfriend at the time of the invasion went off to fight and was wounded. Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for go off 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'go off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of go off was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near go off

Cite this Entry

“Go off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20off. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on go off

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