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
Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024
The warmer will give audio and visual alerts when the bottle has reached the right temperature, while the automatic shutoff function ensures that the bottle won’t overheat in case a caregiver can’t get to it right away.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
One county fee in particular, the payment in lieu of taxes, known as the PILOT, has led to utility shutoffs for households where residents can pay their water and electric bills but struggle to afford that UG charge.
—Luke Nozicka, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
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
USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
Sutton fled the scene with his phone shut off, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
Safety and convenience features include a low oil shutoff switch that protects the engine, a four-wheel design for easy movement and storage, and quiet power at 68 decibels.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024
The warmer will give audio and visual alerts when the bottle has reached the right temperature, while the automatic shutoff function ensures that the bottle won’t overheat in case a caregiver can’t get to it right away.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
One county fee in particular, the payment in lieu of taxes, known as the PILOT, has led to utility shutoffs for households where residents can pay their water and electric bills but struggle to afford that UG charge.
—Luke Nozicka, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
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
Verb
In a video posted to social media, lights on the Dali shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again before the ship struck the bridge.
—USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
Sutton fled the scene with his phone shut off, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
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
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 26 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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