get off

verb

got off; got off or gotten off; getting off; gets off

intransitive verb

1

: to avoid the most serious consequences of a dangerous situation or punishment

got off with a light sentence

2

: start, leave

got off on the trip early

3

: to leave work with permission or as scheduled

4

: to get high on a drug

5

: to experience orgasm

6

: to experience great pleasure

—often used with on

transitive verb

1

: to secure the release of or procure a modified penalty for

his lawyers got him off

2

a

: utter

get off a joke

b

: to write and send

3

: to succeed in doing, making, or delivering

4

: to cause to get off

Synonyms of get off

• depart
• move
• exit
• get
• go
• pull out
• peel off
• push off
• go off
• walk out
• run along
• take off
• cut out
• escape
• start
• bail out
• clear off
• clear out
• step (along)
• push on
• evacuate
• dig out

Examples of get off in a Sentence

told him to get off for home before it got dark

breakfast helps you get off to a good start in the morning

Recent Examples on the Web

Following the shooting, the vehicle driver, who was not injured, and the wounded boy, got off the freeway and waited for emergency responders at 150th Avenue and Freedom Avenue. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

Rocker got off to a rough start allowing a solo homer to leadoff batter Travis Bazzana, but was able to rebound, giving up two runs off six hits in five innings of work. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026

The Hurricanes couldn't have gotten off to a better start in the opener. —ABC News, 6 June 2026

After Belichick’s first season got off to a very rough start, general manager Michael Lombardi sent a letter to donors detailing the program’s roster-building strategy. —Antonio Morales, New York Times, 5 June 2026

The Spurs got off just three field goal attempts while succumbing to the Knicks’ defensive pressure. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

Season two got off to a good start, but fell off the chart after its second week. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

The little boy fell asleep in his seat and didn’t get off, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Germán Márquez got off on the right foot to start his rehab assignment. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for get off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

get off

verb

1

: set out sense 2

got off on their camping trip

2

: to escape or help to escape punishment or harm