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
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
The state legislature expanded shutoff protections for individuals facing difficulty paying their water bills.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Summit proposed beginning shutoffs and late fees by July 1 but that plan was rejected by the commission.
—Andrew Moreau, Arkansas Online, 28 July 2023
Gould said Grossman did not stop for over a third of a mile from the intersection and only did so because her Mercedes’ airbag deployed, triggering a fuel shutoff and a call to a safety operator.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024
Consumers can get digital notice and updates about possible or pending shutoffs.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2023
In the wake of blackouts that rocked New York during the summer of 2019, organizers canvassed working-class neighborhoods hit hardest by the shutoffs, drawing connections between electricity rate hikes, pollution, and climate change.
—Claire Ravenscroft, The New Republic, 21 Sep. 2023
Anaheim Street remained closed in the area for several hours after the shutoff.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2024
Precautionary shutoffs have to be arranged with first responders, Hawaiian Electric Vice President Jim Kelly told CNN on Sunday in an email, adding the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
—Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 17 Aug. 2023
Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
The unpaid bills were one of many problems that Indianapolis renters faced in their dealing with large property companies like JPC Charities, which owned the two apartments where water was shut off.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
There are reasons to shut off Find My iPhone and reasons not to.
—Florence Ion / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
In the Ohio case, the clinic admitted to shutting off an alarm system that should have alerted staff members that the tank was no longer functioning.
—Sarah Kliff, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
On Thursday, many users responded by inundating congressional offices with calls, leading some to shut off their phones.
—Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
The tactic inundated congressional offices with calls, at times forcing offices to shut off their phones.
—Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
After evacuating nearby homes and locking down the school, firefighters were summoned to shut off the gas supply to the home.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Instead of watching television or scrolling through social media before bed, shut off your devices and read a book before rolling into your blankets.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
State legislation adopted last year expanded shutoff protections for those unable to pay their water bills.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
The state legislature expanded shutoff protections for individuals facing difficulty paying their water bills.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Summit proposed beginning shutoffs and late fees by July 1 but that plan was rejected by the commission.
—Andrew Moreau, Arkansas Online, 28 July 2023
Gould said Grossman did not stop for over a third of a mile from the intersection and only did so because her Mercedes’ airbag deployed, triggering a fuel shutoff and a call to a safety operator.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024
Consumers can get digital notice and updates about possible or pending shutoffs.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2023
In the wake of blackouts that rocked New York during the summer of 2019, organizers canvassed working-class neighborhoods hit hardest by the shutoffs, drawing connections between electricity rate hikes, pollution, and climate change.
—Claire Ravenscroft, The New Republic, 21 Sep. 2023
Anaheim Street remained closed in the area for several hours after the shutoff.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2024
Precautionary shutoffs have to be arranged with first responders, Hawaiian Electric Vice President Jim Kelly told CNN on Sunday in an email, adding the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
—Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 17 Aug. 2023
Verb
When the water is running low, the humidifier has an indicator light to warn you, and the device will shut off when the water tank is empty.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
The unpaid bills were one of many problems that Indianapolis renters faced in their dealing with large property companies like JPC Charities, which owned the two apartments where water was shut off.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
There are reasons to shut off Find My iPhone and reasons not to.
—Florence Ion / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
In the Ohio case, the clinic admitted to shutting off an alarm system that should have alerted staff members that the tank was no longer functioning.
—Sarah Kliff, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
On Thursday, many users responded by inundating congressional offices with calls, leading some to shut off their phones.
—Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
The tactic inundated congressional offices with calls, at times forcing offices to shut off their phones.
—Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
After evacuating nearby homes and locking down the school, firefighters were summoned to shut off the gas supply to the home.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Instead of watching television or scrolling through social media before bed, shut off your devices and read a book before rolling into your blankets.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
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 18 Apr. 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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