Go off — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Go off

Go off (verb)

  1. explode
  2. shoot
  3. to burst forth or break out suddenly or noisily

Go off (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure

    "specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off"

    similar: blow, blow up, burst, crump, detonate, explode, pop
    related: fragment, shatter, smash, splinter, discharge, fire, shoot, balloon, burgeon, mushroom
    opposite: implode
    near: collapse, fizzle

  2. to move forward along a course

    "the wedding went off without so much as a single glitch"

    similar: advance, come, come along, do, fare, forge, get along, get on, go, go along, march, pace, proceed, progress, gain ground
    related: accelerate, fast-forward, speed, approach, near, journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend, actuate, drive, impel, propel, push, take out
    opposite: remain, stand, stay, stop
    near: arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem, repress, retard, stunt, suppress, delay, interrupt, stall, cramp, hamper, inhibit, cease, let up, pause, regress, wait

  3. to leave a place often for another

    "don't go off without telling us where we can find you"

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bug off, bug out, bugger off (British slang), buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out, beat it, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

Related Entry: Go off the deep end (phrase)

Go off the deep end is a different word from Go off. The synonyms below are for go off the deep end, not for go off.

  1. to yield to mental or emotional stress

    "After months of pressure at work, he went off the deep end."

    similar: break down, break up, crack, flip (out) (slang), freak (out), melt down, wig (out) (slang), blow one's cool, fall apart, go to pieces, lose it
    related: choke

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Go off

The most common words with a similar meaning to Go off:

Slang: book
British slang: bugger off
Chiefly British: clear off
British: scarper
blow, blow up, burst, crump, detonate, explode, pop, advance, come, come along, do, fare, forge, get along, get on, go, go along, march, pace, proceed, progress, bail, bail out, begone, bug off, bug out, buzz (off), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Go off

Words with the opposite meaning of Go off:

implode, remain, stand, stay, stop, arrive, come, show up, turn up

Related Words for Go off

fragment, shatter, smash, splinter, discharge, fire, shoot, balloon, burgeon, mushroom, accelerate, fast-forward, speed, approach, near, journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend, actuate, drive, impel, propel, push, take out, set out, start, strike out

Near Antonyms of Go off

collapse, fizzle, arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem, repress, retard, stunt, suppress, delay, interrupt, stall, cramp, hamper, inhibit, cease, let up, pause, regress, wait

Word Forms of Go off

Inflections: went off, gone off, going off, goes off

Origin & Etymology of Go off

First known use: 1560

Words & Phrases Containing Go off

go off the deep end, go off with, go off at half cock, go off half-cocked, go off on a tangent, go off the air, go off the rails

Frequently Asked Questions about Go off

What does "Go off" mean?

"Go off" means explode. As a verb, it is defined as: explode. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Go off"?

Other words for "Go off" include blow, blow up, burst, crump, detonate, explode, pop and advance. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Go off" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Go off"?

There are 115 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Go off". Common alternatives include blow, blow up, burst, crump, detonate, explode, pop, advance, come and come along.

What is the opposite of "Go off"?

Antonyms of "Go off" include implode, remain, stand, stay, stop, arrive, come and show up. Near antonyms include collapse, fizzle, arrest and balk.

How do you use "Go off" in a sentence?

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"; "don't go off without telling us where we can find you".

Is "Go off" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Go off" is a verb.

What is the origin of the word "Go off"?

First known use: 1560.

What is another word for "Go off" meaning "to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure"?

When "Go off" (verb) means to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure, synonyms include blow, blow up, burst, crump, detonate and explode. Opposites in this sense include implode.