close off

verb

closed off; closing off; closes off
Synonyms of close offnext
: to not allow (something) to be used for a period of time : close
The city closed off the beach to tourists.
Half of the museum was closed off while they made the changes.
—sometimes used figuratively
He closes himself off to new experiences.

Examples of close off in a Sentence

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.
What was once a busy crossing between the two countries is now a quiet, mine-laden stretch of land closed off to civilians. — ABC News, 25 July 2026 That’s essentially closed off the narrow waterway again, cutting off oil supplies to global markets and sending crude prices higher. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 July 2026 Matthews’ death came nearly a month after he and other firefighters were enveloped June 27 in what’s known as a burnover, in which a fire spreads and closes off all escape routes. — Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026 But emergency responders, fearing a collapse, had already closed off surrounding streets. — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for close off

Rhymes for close off

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Browse Nearby Words

closeness
close off
close on
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Close off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20off. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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