verb
Meaning 1
To eliminate, to make extinct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- We killed off the Dodo by over-hunting.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
kill off
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
-
UK: /kɪl ɒf/
-
US: /kɪl ɔf/
-
US: /kɪl ɑf/
-
US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
verb
Meaning 2
Of writers or producers, to permanently take a character out of a television series or other work by purposefully and deliberately having them killed within the plot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: broadcasting, film, literature, media, publishing, television
Examples
- The writers are killing off lots of people in the soap opera.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To put an end to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
kill en masse; kill on a large scale; kill many
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Hitler wanted to exterminate the Jews, Gypsies, Communists, and homosexuals of Europe
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exterminate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kill
History
Etymology
From kill + off.
Across languages
Translations
1 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Gothic: 𐌰𐍆𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (afdauþjan) — to eliminate or make extinct