switch off

phrasal verb

switched off; switching off; switches off
1
: to turn off (something) by turning or pushing a button or moving a switch, lever, etc.
He switched off the light/lamp.
He switched the TV off.
2
informal : to stop paying attention
When the topic turned to the stock market, he switched off.

Examples of switch off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some users have turned to switching off Bluetooth on other devices to solve the problem, though obviously that’s a workaround which becomes decreasingly appealing. — David Phelan, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 But James Scott blocked Hunter's drive after switching off his man, Chucky Hepburn made one of two free throws with six seconds left to make a three-point game, and Chase Hunter's leaning three-point shot from 25 feet at the buzzer missed. — Ryan Morik, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025 The North Korean crew had reportedly switched off the ship's automatic identification system (AIS), a common practice when seeking to avoid detection. — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 Once the sun has set, the lander's batteries will power down, its heaters will switch off, and the cold of lunar night will probably kill it by mid-March. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for switch off

Rhymes for switch off

See All Rhymes for switch off

Browse Nearby Words

switchman
switch off
switch on
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Switch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch%20off. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on switch off

Nglish: Translation of switch off for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All