1
: something (such as a valve) that shuts off
2
shut off; shutting off; shuts off
1
: to close off : separate
—usually used with from
shut off from the rest of the world
2
a
: to cut off (a flow or passage) : stop
shuts off the oxygen supply
b
: to stop the operation of (something, such as a machine)
shut the motor off
: to cease operating : stop
shuts off automatically
Synonyms
Examples of shutoff in a Sentence
Noun
the utility company threatened them with the shutoff of electricity if the bills weren't paid
Verb
threatened to shut off peace talks if the other side kept making unreasonable demands
shut off the computer to save electricity
Recent Examples on the Web
Molly Allen, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2024
Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank is appealing to tech billionaire Elon Musk for help in assisting homeowners dealing with gas shutoffs and possibly power shutoffs amid worsening landslides.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
Brian Stelter, CNN, 9 Sep. 2024
Disaster spreading in Rancho Palos Verdes: 54 more homes will have their power shut off as land continues to shift.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shutoff 
Noun
The meat thermometer comes with a sheath to protect the probe, a battery claimed to last for 4,000 hours of use, and is equipped with an auto shutoff feature after 10 minutes.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2024
Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank is appealing to tech billionaire Elon Musk for help in assisting homeowners dealing with gas shutoffs and possibly power shutoffs amid worsening landslides.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
Verb
Lots of people find Post journalism through side doors, like social media accounts and email newsletters, but the front door has become more important as social networks shut off the traffic firehose and Google integrates A.I. into its search results.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 9 Sep. 2024
Disaster spreading in Rancho Palos Verdes: 54 more homes will have their power shut off as land continues to shift.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shutoff
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shutoff.' 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 shutoff
Cite this Entry
“Shutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutoff. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutoff
1 of 2 noun
shut·off
ˈshət-ˌȯf 
1
: something that shuts off
2
: an instance of shutting off : interruption, stoppage
shut off
2 of 2 verbˌshət-ˈȯf
1
: to stop the flow of
shut off the water
2
a
: to stop the operation of
shut the motor off
b
: to cease operating
the light shuts off automatically
3
: to make or keep separate
shut off from the rest of the world
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