off

¹off

adverb \ˈȯf\

Definition of OFF

1

a (1) : from a place or position <march off>; specifically : away from land <ship stood off to sea> (2) : at a distance in space or time <stood 10 paces off> <a long way off>

b : from a course : aside <turned off into a bypath>; specifically : away from the wind

c : into an unconscious state <dozed off>

2

a : so as to be separated from support <rolled to the edge of the table and off> or close contact <blew the lid off> <the handle came off>

b : so as to be divided <surface marked off into squares>

3

a : to a state of discontinuance or suspension <shut off an engine>

b —used as an intensifier <drink off a glass> <finish it off>

4

: in absence from or suspension of regular work or service <take time off for lunch>

5

: offstage

Examples of OFF

1. She put on her jacket and off she went.
2. The car turned off onto a side street.

Origin of OFF

Middle English of, from Old English — more at of

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to OFF

Synonyms

down, fro, hence, away, out

Related Words

apart, aside, elsewhere; abroad, afar, afield, astray

Rhymes with OFF

cough, doff, scoff, taw, trough

²off

preposition

Definition of OFF

1

a —used as a function word to indicate physical separation or distance from a position of rest, attachment, or union <take it off the table> <a path off the main walk> <a shop just off the main street>

b : to seaward of <two miles off shore>

2

: from the possession or charge of <had his wallet stolen off him>

3

—used as a function word to indicate the object of an action <borrowed a dollar off him> <dined off oysters>

4

a —used as a function word to indicate the suspension of an occupation or activity <off duty> <off liquor>

b : below the usual standard or level of <off his game>

Examples of OFF

1. She is still living off her parents.
2. The family lives off welfare.
3. They live off the land.
4. They make their living off tourism.

First Known Use of OFF

before 12th century

³off

adjective

Definition of OFF

1

a : seaward

b : right

c : more removed or distant <the off side of the building>

2

a : started on the way <off on a spree>

b : not taking place or staying in effect : canceled <the deal was off>

c : not operating

d : not placed so as to permit operation

3

a : not corresponding to fact : incorrect <off in his reckoning>

b : poor, subnormal

c : not entirely sane : eccentric

d : remote, slight <an off chance>

4

a : spent off duty <reading on his off days>

b : marked by a periodic decline in activity or business <traveled in the off season for lower prices>

5

a : off-color

b : inferior <off grade of oil>; also : affected with putrefaction

c : down <stocks were off>

6

: circumstanced <worse off>

Examples of OFF

1. The lever is in the off position.
2. He is off playing golf.
3. She is off on a trip.

First Known Use of OFF

1666

Related to OFF

Synonyms

bastard, bush, bush-league, crummy (also crumby), deficient, dissatisfactory, ill, inferior, lame, lousy, bad, paltry, poor, punk, sour, suboptimal, subpar, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wack [slang], wanting, wretched, wrong

Antonyms

acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, standard, tolerable

Related Words

abysmal, atrocious, awful, bitchin' [slang], brutal, damnable, deplorable, detestable, disastrous, dreadful, execrable, gnarly [slang], horrendous, horrible, pathetic, stinky, sucky [slang], terrible, unspeakable; defective, faulty, flawed; egregious, flagrant, gross; bum, cheesy, coarse, common, crappy [slang], cut-rate, junky, lesser, low-grade, low-rent, mediocre, miserable, reprehensible, rotten, rubbishy, second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, trashy; abominable, odious, vile; useless, valueless, worthless; inadequate, insufficient, lacking, meager (or meagre), mean, miserly, niggardly, scanty, shabby, short, skimp, skimpy, spare, stingy; miscreant, scurrilous, villainous; counterfeit, fake, phony (also phoney), sham

Near Antonyms

classic, classical; A1, bang-up, banner, boss [slang], capital, choice, crackerjack, dandy, divine, excellent, exceptional, fabulous, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-test, jim-dandy, keen, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, par excellence, perfect, premium, prime, sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, wonderful; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, sufficient; average, borderline, fair, mediocre, middling, minimal, so-so, unexceptional; suitable, useful, worthy; gratifying, satisfying

⁴off

verb

Definition of OFF

intransitive verb

: to go away : depart —used chiefly as an imperative <off, or I'll shoot>

transitive verb

slang : kill, murder

Examples of OFF

1. The movie is about a gangster who gets power by offing his rivals.
2. <the hit man bragged that he'd offed at least three people in the last year alone>

First Known Use of OFF

1717

Related to OFF

Synonyms

assassinate, bump off, croak [slang], dispatch, do in, execute, get, ice [slang], knock off, liquidate, neutralize, murder [slang], put away, rub out, slay, snuff, take out, terminate, whack [slang]

Related Words

blow away, shoot, shoot down; blot out, carry off, claim, cut down, destroy, fell, kill, smite, zap; butcher, massacre, mow (down), slaughter; annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, exterminate, wipe out

Near Antonyms

animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive

⁵off

abbreviation

Definition of OFF

office; officer; official