cut off

British  

verb

1. to remove by cutting

2. to intercept or interrupt something, esp a telephone conversation

3. to discontinue the supply of

   to cut off the water

4. to bring to an end

5. to deprive of rights; disinherit

   she was cut off without a penny

6. to sever or separate

   she was cut off from her family

7. to occupy a position so as to prevent or obstruct (a retreat or escape)

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noun

1. 1. the act of cutting off; limit or termination

   2. ( as modifier )

      the cutoff point

2. a route or way that is shorter than the usual one; short cut

3. a device to terminate the flow of a fluid in a pipe or duct

4. Also called: offcut.  the remnant of metal, plastic, etc, left after parts have been machined or trimmed

5. electronics

   1. the value of voltage, frequency, etc, below or above which an electronic device cannot function efficiently

   2. ( as modifier )

      cutoff voltage

6. a channel cutting across the neck of a meander, which leaves an oxbow lake

7. another name for oxbow

cut off Idioms  

1. Separate from others, isolate, as in The construction debris cut off the workers from the canteen , or The new sect was cut off from the church . [Late 1500s]

2. Stop suddenly, discontinue, as in He quickly cut off the engine , or The drama was cut off by a news flash about tornado warnings . [Late 1500s]

3. Shut off, bar, Their phone was cut off when they didn't pay the bill , or Tom's father threatened to cut off his allowance . [c. 1600]

4. Interrupt the course or passage of, intercept, as in The operator cut us off , or The shortstop cut off the throw to the plate . [Late 1500s]

5. Also, . Disinherit, as in Grandfather cut him off with a shilling . This usage dates from the early 1700s; the purpose of bequeathing one shilling (a small sum) was to indicate that the heir had not been overlooked but was intentionally being disinherited. In America cent was substituted from about 1800 on.

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Example Sentences

Cut off from historic higher elevation cold-water spawning grounds by the Shasta and Keswick dams, the fish have been stranded for decades in the Sacramento River — where warm water routinely cooks their eggs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Cut off from heating since January, Tetyana Kolisnichenko, 47, wishes residents of her Soviet-era block would make the investment.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Cut off from foreign currency, trade and investment, the government is unable to control inflation and stop the depreciation of the currency, the rial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

Cut off since October, many have resorted to eating animal feed in recent weeks.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

Cut off from the rest of the hospital, the unit was patrolled by security guards.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• block
• close off
• disconnect
• discontinue
• halt
• isolate
• renounce
• separate
• suspend