turn off

To stop a light, machine, or feature from working by using its controls.

• Please turn off the light.
• I turned my phone off during dinner.
• Have you turned off email notifications?

How to use it: turn something off (Please turn the television off.); turn it/them off (The lights are bright; turn them off.)

Similar words: switch off, deactivate

Opposites: turn on

Common phrases: turn off lights, turn off something, turn off notifications

If a machine or light does this, it stops working because its power is stopped.

• The screen turns off after a minute.
• My laptop turned off during the film.
• Why does the light keep turning off?

Similar words: switch off, shut down

Opposites: turn on

Common phrases: turn off automatically, turn off suddenly

To close a tap or valve so that water or gas stops flowing.

• Turn off the tap, please.
• We turned the gas off before repairing the pipe.
• Has anyone turned off the water supply?

How to use it: turn something off (Turn the tap off when you finish washing.)

Similar words: shut off

Opposites: turn on

Common phrases: turn off water, turn off gas, turn off taps

To make someone lose interest or feel dislike or disgust.

• That smell really turns me off.
• His rude jokes turned several guests off.
• Does all that violence turn you off the film?

How to use it: turn someone off (His constant complaining turned me off.); turn someone off something (The poor service turned us off that restaurant.)

Similar words: put off, repel

Opposites: attract

Common phrases: turn off someone, turn off customers

To stop heating food by switching off the cooker beneath it.

• The beans are cooked; turn them off.
• I turned off the potatoes before they became too soft.
• Can you turn off the soup while I serve dinner?

How to use it: turn off something (The rice is ready, so turn it off.)

Common phrases: turn off potatoes, turn off beans

To turn your body away from someone or something.

• He turned off from me.
• She turned off from the doorway to face the window.
• The child turned off from us and faced the corner.

How to use it: turn off from someone/something (He turned off from the crowd and faced the wall.)

Similar words: turn away

Common phrases: turn off sideways, turn off abruptly