Phrasal verb
sign off
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
sign off
Past
signed off
Past participle
signed off
Definition
phrasal verb. to finish a broadcast, a letter, or a period of work. You use this when you are ending a conversation or stopping your work for the day.
phrasal verb. To conclude a communication, such as a broadcast or a formal letter; also used to indicate the cessation of work or activity. The verb is typically intransitive in these contexts.
Examples
“I sign off with a quick 'thanks' before leaving work.”
“Before she signs off for the weekend, she always checks her calendar for Monday.”
“The veteran broadcaster signed off for the final time, concluding a career that spanned four decades of political upheaval and social change.”
Examples
simple
“I sign off with a quick 'thanks' before leaving work.”
contextual
“Before she signs off for the weekend, she always checks her calendar for Monday.”
complex
“The veteran broadcaster signed off for the final time, concluding a career that spanned four decades of political upheaval and social change.”
Usage
Often used in broadcasting or when ending a professional email or work session.
Teaching tip
Distinguish between 'sign off' (to finish/end) and 'sign off on' (to approve); the latter is a transitive phrasal-prepositional verb common in business.
Pitfall
The manager needs to sign off the report.
The manager needs to sign off on the report.
To express official approval, the preposition 'on' must follow 'sign off'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
off
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
sign + off
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sign-off