# block off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/block-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to close a road or an opening so that people or cars cannot pass through it.

For teachers: to obstruct or seal an entrance, exit, or thoroughfare to prevent access or passage; often involves physical barriers.

## Examples

- The police block off the street for the parade.
- Workers had to block off the main entrance while they repaired the broken glass in the lobby.
- Authorities decided to block off the entire perimeter to ensure that the investigation could proceed without interference from the public.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They blocked off of the road." but "They blocked off the road." — the particle 'off' is followed directly by the object without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- commonly used with physical spaces like roads, entrances, or sections of a building.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'close off' which is very similar, but 'block' emphasizes the physical barrier used to stop movement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.