Turn off — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Turn off

Turn off (verb)

  1. to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control
  2. to cause to lose interest, bore; also, to evoke a negative feeling in
  3. dismiss, discharge

Turn off (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to feel disgust

    "that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while"

    similar: disgust, gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn one's stomach
    related: displease, distress, appall, disquiet, horrify, affront, insult, offend, outrage, shock
    near: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, draw, enchant, entice, fascinate, lure, pull, seduce, tempt, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, enrapture, enthrall, entrance, appeal (to), interest, intrigue

  2. to change one's course or direction

    "turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left"

    similar: detour, deviate, diverge, sheer, swerve, swing, turn, veer, wheel
    related: tack, zigzag, double (back), turn back

  3. to let go from office, service, or employment

    "eventually, the supervisor turned off the insubordinate employee"

    similar: ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, send packing, show (someone) the door
    related: downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate
    opposite: employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on
    near: keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

  4. to cause to stop functioning

    "please turn off the fan when you're done"

    similar: deactivate, kill, shut off
    related: flick (off), dismantle, mothball, phase out, arrest, brake, chock, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick
    opposite: activate, actuate, crank (up), drive, move, propel, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on
    near: charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push, discharge, launch, release, switch, trip, reactivate, recharge

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Turn off

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

disgust, gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, detour, deviate, diverge, sheer, swerve, swing, turn, veer, wheel, ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, deactivate, kill, shut off, turn one's stomach, send packing, show (someone) the door

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Turn off

Words with the opposite meaning of Turn off:

employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on, activate, actuate, crank (up), drive, move, propel, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on

Related Words for Turn off

displease, distress, appall, disquiet, horrify, affront, insult, offend, outrage, shock, tack, zigzag, double (back), turn back, downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate, flick (off), dismantle, mothball, phase out

Near Antonyms of Turn off

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, draw, enchant, entice, fascinate, lure, pull, seduce, tempt, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, enrapture, enthrall, entrance, appeal (to), interest, intrigue, keep, reemploy, rehire, contract

Word Forms of Turn off

Inflections: turned off, turning off, turns off

Origin & Etymology of Turn off

First known use: 1564t

Frequently Asked Questions about Turn off

What does "Turn off" mean?

"Turn off" means to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control. As a verb, it is defined as: to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Turn off"?

Other words for "Turn off" include disgust, gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt and sicken. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Turn off" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Turn off"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Turn off". Common alternatives include disgust, gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, detour and deviate.

What is the opposite of "Turn off"?

Antonyms of "Turn off" include employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on, activate and actuate. Near antonyms include allure, attract, beguile and bewitch.

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

Examples of "Turn off" in a sentence: "that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while"; "turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left"; "eventually, the supervisor turned off the insubordinate employee".

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

"Turn off" is a verb.

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

First known use: 1564t.

What is another word for "Turn off" meaning "to cause to feel disgust"?

When "Turn off" (verb) means to cause to feel disgust, synonyms include disgust, gross out, nauseate, put off, repel and repulse.