GO OFF

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does go off mean? 

• GO OFF (verb)
  The verb GO OFF has 6 senses:

1. run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along

2. be discharged or activated

3. go off or discharge

4. stop running, functioning, or operating

5. happen in a particular manner

6. burst inward

  Familiarity information: GO OFF used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GO OFF (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

abscond; absquatulate; bolt; decamp; go off; make off; run off

Context example:

the accountant absconded with the cash from the safe

Hypernyms (to "go off" is one way to...):

flee; fly; take flight (run away quickly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "go off"):

levant (run off without paying a debt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be discharged or activated

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

the explosive devices went off

Hypernyms (to "go off" is one way to...):

burst; explode (burst outward, usually with noise)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Go off or discharge

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

discharge; fire; go off

Context example:

The gun fired

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Stop running, functioning, or operating

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Our power went off during the hurricane

Hypernyms (to "go off" is one way to...):

halt; stop (come to a halt, stop moving)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

go on (start running, functioning, or operating)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Happen in a particular manner

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

come off; go off; go over

Context example:

how did your talk go over?

Hypernyms (to "go off" is one way to...):

come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s Adjective

Sense 6

Meaning:

Burst inward

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

go off; implode

Context example:

The bottle imploded

Hypernyms (to "go off" is one way to...):

break; cave in; collapse; fall in; founder; give; give way (break down, literally or metaphorically)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

The vessel seemed to go off at a tangent to its former course and leapt almost instantly from view into the fog.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound; when we have discover that, we come back and tell you all.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Did he know of their intending to go off?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Yes, sir, I go off duty at eleven.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For half an hour or so I discussed that old gentleman’s symptoms with him, and then, having prescribed for him, I saw him go off upon the arm of his son.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All the village was out to see young Roddy Stone go off with his grand relative from London to call upon the Prince in his own palace.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You’ll go off and he, poor devil, will have to stand the racket, and lucky if he gets off with his life.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No one saw him and Buck go off through the orchard on what Buck imagined was merely a stroll.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

"In all his life he's only been known once to go off his feet, and here he's been rolled twice in thirty seconds."

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“She had no doubt in the world of its being a very fine day, if the clouds would only go off, and the sun keep out.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)