turn off

present singular third person turns off · participle present turning off · participle past turned off · past turned off

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see turn, off.

   He turned off from me and faced the far wall.

2. transitiveTo power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.).

   In some people, this gene has been turned off.

   3 more examples

   Turn off the machine and unplug it when you leave.

   "Will it ever stop?" Yo, I don't know / Turn off the lights, and I'll glow

   1989, “Ice Ice Baby”, in Hooked, performed by Vanilla Ice

   Hello, IT. Have you tried turning it off and turning it on again? Ok. Well, are you sure that it's plugged in?

   2006 February 17, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, season 1, episode 4

   1. broadlytransitiveTo deactivate a heat source cooking a particular item.

      You can turn off the green beans now.

   2. intransitivetransitiveusuallyTo become deactivated; to become powered down.

      My computer turned off!

   3. transitiveTo rotate a tap or valve so as to interrupt the outflow of liquid or gas.

      Remember to turn the tap off once you've finished so you don't waste water.

      Synonyms: shut off

   4. obsoletetransitiveTo dismiss; to fire.

      The butler turned off that foolish maid.

      2 more examples

      Upon her first coming into my Family, she turned off a parcel of very careful Servants, who had been long with me

      1712, John Enville, edited by Henry Morley, The Spectator, George Routledge and Sons, page 430

      [H]e came to this country in the service of an English gentleman, whom he was obliged to quit through the malice of the valet de chambre, who taking advantage of the young man's being overtaken with liquor on the last St.Andrew's day, turned him off, on the pretext of his being an habitual drunkard.

      1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 273

3. transitiveTo bore, repulse, disgust, or discourage (someone).

   Cigarette smoking really turns me off.

   5 more examples

   That book's plot was so predictable, it turned me off.

   The smell of the trash bag is turning me off.

   Her harsh words might turn them off from participating any further.

   Better be a gentleman, or you'll turn me off

   1986, “Nasty”, in Control, performed by Janet Jackson

   "They are turning people off travelling. And the removal of catering on such a long-distance route is just bonkers."

   2021 December 29, Paul Clifton, “"Crisis" on the West of England line”, in RAIL, number 947, page 35

4. intransitiveTo leave a road; to exit a highway or other main road.

   Turn off at the next exit so we can have lunch.

   1 more example

   You'll need to turn off before we get to the county line.

5. datedtransitiveTo avert; to stop (something).

   she could not but be grateful to him when he turned off a scolding from the fierce and sullen old man

   1866 May 26, “Forest Life”, in Littell's Living Age (Fourth; 8), number 1147, Boston: Littel Son & Co., section III, page 555

   1 more example

   "Pardon my clumsiness," he said to the lady. "I am, unfortunately, quite blind. But," he added, with a smile, to turn off the mishap, "even a blind man must have a house."

   1914, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados

6. archaictransitiveTo turn out; to produce.

   The next day he did not drive himself so hard; but he turned off a good day's work, just the same

   2022, O. E. Rölvaag, chapter II, in Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie, DigiCat

   1 more example

   According to D. A. Wells, one boy and a machine can turn off 9,000 pair of sleeve buttons in a day.

   1895, The Dawn, volumes 7-8, page 4

7. obsoleteslangtransitiveTo execute by hanging.

   The thief was turned off by the hangman.

   1 more example

   The fell had not only put its cap on, it was drawn down over its white face as that other white cap, still more terrible to look upon, covers the features of the poor wretch about to be "turned off" on the gallows.

   1890, James Payn, The Burnt Million, volume 2, page 63

8. transitiveTo raise, unblocking the way and signaling that a train may proceed.

   Antonyms: turn on