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
For the last two years, the power in Johannesburg has often been switched off for several hours each day, as an overloaded national power grid buckles.
—
Ryan Lenora Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024
Merz had the presence of mind to crawl from underneath the car and switch off the engine to prevent an explosion.
—Dawn Mitchell, The Indianapolis Star, 21 May 2024
But, as a rule, the majority of fans will see little of that: Many viewers turn on just before kickoff, use halftime to make or dispose of a drink, and then switch off a few moments after the final whistle.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Then there’s Track mode, which allows drivers to switch off stability control and choose from nine different levels of traction control.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 12 May 2024
Three long-running satellites will soon be switched off, forcing scientists to figure out how to adjust their views of our changing planet.
—Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Airplanes are one of the few places where we are forced to switch off from the outside world without any internet connection or access to social media (although that is rapidly changing).
—Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024
Hamilton figured that a digital dead man’s switch, which would release a document payload instead of switching off a machine, could help someone to recover their wallet or pass credentials to an inheritor without having to trust a third party.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Heat cables made by Frost King, a popular brand, have thermostats that turn on heat when pipes are below 38 degrees and switch off above 45 degrees.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Ryan Lenora Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024
Merz had the presence of mind to crawl from underneath the car and switch off the engine to prevent an explosion.
—Dawn Mitchell, The Indianapolis Star, 21 May 2024
But, as a rule, the majority of fans will see little of that: Many viewers turn on just before kickoff, use halftime to make or dispose of a drink, and then switch off a few moments after the final whistle.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Then there’s Track mode, which allows drivers to switch off stability control and choose from nine different levels of traction control.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 12 May 2024
Three long-running satellites will soon be switched off, forcing scientists to figure out how to adjust their views of our changing planet.
—Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Airplanes are one of the few places where we are forced to switch off from the outside world without any internet connection or access to social media (although that is rapidly changing).
—Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024
Hamilton figured that a digital dead man’s switch, which would release a document payload instead of switching off a machine, could help someone to recover their wallet or pass credentials to an inheritor without having to trust a third party.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Heat cables made by Frost King, a popular brand, have thermostats that turn on heat when pipes are below 38 degrees and switch off above 45 degrees.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'switch off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near switch off
Cite this Entry
“Switch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch%20off. Accessed 2 Jun. 2024.
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