Meaning & use
go off
To explode, activate suddenly, or begin operating, as an alarm, gun, or bomb.
See it in a sentence
The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night, waking the entire building.
The fireworks went off exactly at midnight, lighting up the whole sky.
A note on using this word
Go off can also mean that food has spoiled, as in 'the milk has gone off,' a common usage in British English.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. phrase
(of food or drink) to become spoiled or rotten over time.
Throw out the milk if it smells sour, since it has clearly gone off.
Make it your own
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