log off

Meanings

1. 1verbphrasal verbcomputing

   To end your connection to a computer system or account by telling it you have finished.

   Grammar: No object when you sign yourself out: I logged off. With an object it means ending someone's session: the admin logged him off.

   Patterns

   • log off from something
   • log off something
   • log someone off

   Remember to log off before you leave the library computer.

   She logged off from her work account at six o'clock.

   The server will log you off automatically after ten minutes of inactivity.

2. 2verbphrasal verbinformal

   To stop working or chatting online, especially for the day.

   Grammar: No object; often used informally to say you are stopping for now.

   Patterns

   • log off for the night

   I'm going to log off now; we can finish this tomorrow.

   He logged off early to have dinner with his family.

Word forms

Common combinations

log off the computer

Please log off the computer when you finish.

log off for the day

Most staff log off for the day around five.

automatically log off

The app will automatically log off inactive users.

forget to log off

I forgot to log off, so my brother read my messages.

log off from a network

You must log off from the network before shutting down.

Synonyms and how they differ

log out

Log out is just as common and is now the usual choice for websites and apps, while log off feels slightly older and tied to computers and networks.

sign out

Sign out is used for accounts and apps, and sounds friendlier and less technical.

disconnect

Disconnect describes cutting the link itself, which can happen without you finishing properly.

Opposites

Word family

log noun

a record of events or access

log on verb

to connect to a system by entering your details

logoff noun

the act of ending a session

Commonly confused: log off or log of?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “log off”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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