go off

verb

went off; gone off; going off; goes off

intransitive verb

1

: explode

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

Synonyms

• blow
• blow up
• burst
• crump
• detonate
• explode
• pop

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

Alarms reportedly went off in buildings across the Thai capital city when the earthquake hit around 1:30 p.m., according to the Associated Press. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2025

However, in a series of unfortunate events, the gun allegedly went off and hit the 23-year-old instead. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Meredith, who has her hand on a bomb (inside a patient) can't move, otherwise the bomb could go off. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

In November, Jones went off for 28 points vs. Maryland on 10-for 18 FG shooting (3-for-5 from outside). —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for go off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

go off

verb

1

: explode sense 2b

2

: to burst forth or break out suddenly or noisily

3

: to take place : proceed

the dance went off as planned