off-ramp

or off·ramp

[ awf-ramp, of- ]

noun

1. an exit lane for traffic from a turnpike or freeway to a street.

off-ramp

noun

1. a short steep one-way road by which traffic can leave a motorway or highway

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-ramp¹

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Example Sentences

Pickler might be nearing the off ramp, but his nearly three-decade, two-coast joyride isn’t over.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m starting to think the ‘off ramp’ here is the Supreme Court says there’s a difference between running for office and holding office and then they wait for Judge Chutkan to get a trial going, see what happens in November, and then revisit the substantive question if needed,” he predicted.

From Salon

As summer turned into fall, both sides were still searching for a mutually acceptable “off ramp” from catastrophe.

From Salon

It also comes at the same time that Assembly Republicans passed a sweeping redistricting reform bill Vos described as an “off ramp” to impeachment and Senate Republicans voted to fire the state’s nonpartisan elections director.

From Seattle Times

“They took the off ramp to leave the mob.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• off ramp
• turnoff