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
Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Two polling places—the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center in Lake County and Lakeside Elementary School in Los Gatos—are within the scope of the shutoffs.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
In an effort to mitigate risks, on Tuesday night Southern California Edison began shutting off power to customers in areas where its equipment was considered at high risk of sparking a wildfire.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shutoff 
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Noun
The most exciting thing to happen in the area on Election Day was arguably a series of public safety power shutoffs by PG&E triggered by red flag fire conditions, which affected polling locations including Los Gatos’s Lakeside Elementary School.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Two polling places—the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center in Lake County and Lakeside Elementary School in Los Gatos—are within the scope of the shutoffs.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The village is part of the Town of Warwick, which said in a statement that voluntary evacuations were in effect for residents along one road, power was shut off as a precaution during a prescribed burn, and another key road was restricted to a single lane for residents.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
In an effort to mitigate risks, on Tuesday night Southern California Edison began shutting off power to customers in areas where its equipment was considered at high risk of sparking a wildfire.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shutoff
Dictionary Entries Near shutoff
Cite this Entry
“Shutoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutoff. Accessed 30 Nov. 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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