go off

phrasal-verb
UK: /ɡəʊ ɒf/
US: /ɡoʊ ɔːf/

  1. To explode or fire.

    1. The bomb might go off any minute, so run! [ ] [ ]
    2. If you shake that soda too much, it might go off when you open it. [ ] [ ]

  2. To leave a place or begin a journey.

    1. I must go off now, or I'll be late. [ ] [ ]
    2. We saw them go off towards the mountains early this morning. [ ] [ ]

  3. To stop liking someone or something.

    1. I've gone off coffee lately. [ ] [ ]
    2. He seems to have gone off her; they argue all the time now. [ ] [ ]

  4. If food goes off, it is no longer good to eat.

    1. This milk will go off if you don't put it in the fridge. [ ] [ ]
    2. The meat had gone off and smelled terrible, so I threw it away. [ ] [ ]

  5. To suddenly become angry.

    1. He can go off very quickly, so be careful what you say. [ ] [ ]
    2. She went off on me when I told her I couldn't come to her party. [ ] [ ]

  6. To start making a noise; to ring.

    1. The alarm clock didn't go off this morning. [ ] [ ]
    2. Why did the fire alarm go off in the middle of the night? [ ] [ ]

  7. To start to operate or happen.

    1. The electricity will go off for an hour. [ ] [ ]
    2. The plan went off without a hitch, thanks to careful planning. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

depart decay detonate spoil begin start explode

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "go off" in English means: To explode or fire., To leave a place or begin a journey., To stop liking someone or something., If food goes off, it is no longer good to eat., To suddenly become angry., To start making a noise; to ring., To start to operate or happen..

The phonetic transcription of "go off" is /ɡəʊ ɒf/ in British English and /ɡoʊ ɔːf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "go off": depart, decay, detonate, spoil, begin, start, explode.

Example usage of "go off": "The bomb might go off any minute, so run!". More examples on the page.