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
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
More than 15,000 people in Malibu, from Brentwood Country Club to Pepperdine University, face gas shutoffs, county Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said in the morning news conference.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025
Public safety power shutoffs refer to planned outages that take place when utilities such as San Diego Gas & Electric preemptively shut off power supply to some lines to prevent wildfires from sparking.
—Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shutoff 
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Noun
Utilities in California often employ what are called public safety power shutoffs in order to reduce the risk of high winds causing power lines to fall to dry ground, potentially igniting a wildfire.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
More than 15,000 people in Malibu, from Brentwood Country Club to Pepperdine University, face gas shutoffs, county Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said in the morning news conference.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
The next year, a major fire ripped through Malibu, destroying hundreds of homes and later, when the El Nino storms arrived, resulted in mudslides that shut off major coastal routes for months.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025
Public safety power shutoffs refer to planned outages that take place when utilities such as San Diego Gas & Electric preemptively shut off power supply to some lines to prevent wildfires from sparking.
—Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
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 22 Jan. 2025.
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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