goes off

Definition of goes offnext
present tense third-person singular of go off
1
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of goes off The glitz and glamour of Tinseltown will be on full display at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, where the 98th Academy Awards are being held, but behind the scenes, there have also been intense preparations to ensure the high-profile event goes off without a hitch. Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026 At this point, the show really goes off the rails. Patrick R. Crowley, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026 Instead, her latest book goes off the rails. Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026 Torres recommends driving the car to see if the light goes off as the car thaws. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026 For a new resort that has both a busy beach club and a more private guests-only aspect, the service goes off without a hitch. Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026 Once your timer goes off, leave the oven door closed and set a new timer for 45 minutes. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026 Joe has schizophrenia and sometimes goes off his meds. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026 Hindsight is 20/20, especially when a year goes off the rails. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goes off
Verb
  • There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
  • In that kind of disaster scenario, the crew capsule separates from the rocket to save the astronauts, and the rocket explodes into small pieces.
    Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • More service center locations may be added as the transition progresses, the USDA said.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • As the month progresses, your attention shifts closer to home.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the closing scene, Rachel gathers her belongings, removes her wedding dress and exits the cabin.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Rachel removes her wedding dress, gathers her belongings and exits the cabin.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
  • But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history.
    Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • So does Soderbergh’s camera, which begins sniffing and roving about the space like a dog unleashed.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • So does Delta Air Lines, which also ranks high with customers and is now the country’s most profitable carrier.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This album also departs from Rodrigo’s one-word naming convention.
    Katie Simons, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The key, then, is to see how significantly this data departs from the standard prediction.
    Big Think, Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • There’s a sturdiness to his game that pops right away, and that usually gets teams’ attention.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.
    Zach Boetto, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Hence, as the thinking goes, Zendaya’s thrall-like popularity with Gen Z and millennial viewers will act as an antidote to bad buzz.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Goes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goes%20off. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster