off

play

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

The ship eased off a point or two.

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

The actor turns and goes off.

See off defined for English-language learners

See off defined for kids

Examples of off in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of off from the Web

Then cap the night off back in Midtown with seasonal craft cocktails at the wonderfully dark, moody, and very delicious Death and Taxes.

— heather platt, Los Angeles Magazine, "Reno: It’s Not Just The Place You Ignore While Skiing in Tahoe Anymore," 28 Aug. 2017
Even coming off the biggest win of his career—the Cincy title—

— SI.com, "2017 U.S. Open Men's Seed Reports," 26 Aug. 2017
Family and friends filled a hangar at the Illinois Army National Guard's Peoria aviation facility to send off 40 soldiers, including Specialist Dylan Ingersoll of Batavia, who are slated to spend the next several months in Afghanistan.

— andy kravetz, Aurora Beacon-News, "National Guard unit ready for stint in Afghanistan," 25 Aug. 2017
The combination of Tannehill not being all that great and replacement Jay Cutler being good enough means Miami has not fallen off much at the most important position.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Dolphins’ Double-J offense will be enough to overcome shortcomings on D," 25 Aug. 2017
First off, Squidward is a total Krusty Krab traitor and Plankton actually looks like a villain.

— stacey grant, Seventeen, "This "SpongeBob SquarePants" Anime Opening Is Low-Key Nightmare Fuel," 24 Aug. 2017
Headaches are pretty awful at any time, but getting one in the A.M. is a sure-fire way to get your day off to crappy start.

— korin miller, SELF, "6 Causes of Morning Headaches," 24 Aug. 2017
A flight dispatcher’s job isn’t done when the plane takes off.

— allison hope, CNT, "This Person Is More in Control of Your Flight Than the Pilot," 24 Aug. 2017
If Elsevier cuts off access again, German researchers who want to read articles from Elsevier journals, among them Cell, The Lancet, and Physics Reports, will have to resort to measures such as interlibrary loans—or go to pirate sites like SciHub.

— gretchen vogel, Science | AAAS, "A bold open-access push in Germany could change the future of academic publishing," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'off.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of off

Middle English of, from Old English — more at of

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

off Synonyms

Synonyms

down, fro, hence, away, out

Related Words

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

off

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

See off defined for English-language learners

Examples of off in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of off

see ¹off

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

off

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

See off defined for English-language learners

Examples of off in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of off from the Web

Surprisingly, Hawkins said one of his least experienced — the young defensive line — will be the team’s strength because of its preparation during the off-season.

— kyle williams, The Courier-Journal, "Southern Indiana high school football preview capsules," 17 Aug. 2017
And as McAuliffe noted, in an off-key remark, there was also no property damage in Charlottesville.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "Could Police Have Prevented Bloodshed in Charlottesville?," 14 Aug. 2017
Quintana tried to scoop it to Avila at the plate, but was off target.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Reds recap: Cubs steamroll their way to win," 14 Aug. 2017
His off-kilter field pieces garnered equal renown, which means that this new series is essentially a godsend to any Letterman die-hard.

— laura bradley, HWD, "Letterman Would Love to Interview Trump and Kim Jong-un on His New Show," 8 Aug. 2017
Measuring Spoons Cutting Board Rimmed Baking Sheet Fork 2-Quart Baking Dish Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 450°. Cut off stem end of eggplant, then shave a thin slice off of fattest part of bulbous end.

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "Cheesy Zucchini-Eggplant Bake," 7 Aug. 2017
Not until the far-off date of 2017 will totality once more be so visible to so many on this continent.

— tyler nordgren, Discover Magazine, "Eclipse 2017: Darkness Is Coming," 7 Aug. 2017
Turner has 5.4 million Instagram followers, 1.3 million Twitter followers, and 2 million Facebook fans—and the fight is even more off-balance.

— yohana desta, vanityfair.com, "The Very Millennial Way Sophie Turner Beat a “Better” Actress for a Job," 3 Aug. 2017
Amid all of the day’s cynicism, rediscover the hope of 19-year-old Ruth Kwall, writing one day after the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, upon realizing that her fiancé, Joseph Portnoy, would soon be off to war.

— elliot kaufman, National Review, "Grace on the Fourth of July," 4 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of off

see ¹off

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1666

See Words from the same year

off Synonyms

off

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

See off defined for English-language learners

Examples of off in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of off from the Web

Of course, there’s a big difference between offing a child standing next to you and saying that people ought to choose not to have that child in the first place.

— alexandra desanctis, National Review, "Population Control, the Undying Dream of the Left," 13 July 2017
And Bron's been in this league for a while now, and he's seen every which way from on the court, to off the court, to dealing with some of you guys, to dealing with the whole world of just choosing a side.

— joe vardon, cleveland.com, "Tyronn Lue cried, Kyrie Irving paid tribute to LeBron James after Cavaliers lost Finals to Warriors," 13 June 2017
Off by itself on the right side of the stick’s top is a two-position switch.

— matthew hirsch, Ars Technica, "VPC’s MongoosT-50 joystick: A rare Russian-style controller for skies or space," 4 June 2017
Tapping openers H.E.R. and producer Metro Boomin', Tiller's Set It Off tour will start Aug. 3 at Atlanta's Fox Theatre and wrap on Sept. 16 in the singer's native Louisville, Kentucky at the KFC Yum! Center.

— adelle platon, Billboard, "Bryson Tiller Reveals Set It Off Tour With H.E.R. & Metro Boomin'," 30 May 2017
House Hunters Renovation, and House Hunters Off the Grid.

— jessica mattern, Country Living, "HGTV Will Add Two New 'House Hunters' Spinoffs to Their Lineup," 25 May 2017
Off a turnover, Real Madrid proved lethal, with Isco feeding a streaking Ronaldo with a through ball.

— si.com staff, SI.com, "Watch: Ronaldo, Real Madrid handle Malaga to fend off Barcelona, win La Liga title," 21 May 2017
Cardinals: Off to their worst start in six years for three basic reasons:

— patrick saunders, The Denver Post, "Saunders: Rockies are baseball’s least-hated team and have no rivals. Can that change?," 14 Apr. 2017
After the phone call ended, Hoft and Wintrich took an elevator down to Off the Record.

— andrew marantz, The New Yorker, "Is Trump Trolling the White House Press Corps?," 20 Mar. 2017

Origin and Etymology of off

see ¹off

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1717

See Words from the same year

off Synonyms

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

off

abbreviation

Definition of off

office; officer; official

-off

noun combining form \ ˌȯf \

Definition of -off

:competition :contest

bake-off

Origin and Etymology of -off

runoff

OFF Defined for English Language Learners

off

play

adverb

Definition of off for English Language Learners

: away from a place
: away from a main road, path, etc.
: at a distance in time or space

off

preposition

Definition of off for English Language Learners

—used to indicate separation, distance, or removal from someone or something
: on money, food, energy, etc., supplied by (someone or something)
—used to indicate something that someone is no longer doing or using

off

adjective

Definition of off for English Language Learners

: not attached to or covering something : not on
: not operating, functioning, or flowing
: in a position that stops the flow of electricity, water, etc.

off

verb

Definition of off for English Language Learners

: to kill or murder (someone)

OFF Defined for Kids

off

play

adverb \ ˈȯf \

Definition of off for Students

1 :from a place or position

He got angry and marched off.

2 :from a course :aside

The driver turned off onto a side street.

3 :so as not to be supported, covering or enclosing, or attached

I jumped off.

The lid blew off.

The handle fell off.

4 :so as to be discontinued or finished

Turn the radio off.

The couple paid off their debts.

5 :away from work

I took the day off.

off

preposition

Definition of off for Students

1 :away from the surface or top of

Take those books off the table.

2 :at the expense of

I lived off my parents.

3 :released or freed from

The officer was off duty.

4 :below the usual level of

We can save a dollar off the price.

5 :away from

The hotel is just off the highway.

off

adjective

Definition of off for Students

1 :not operating or flowing

The radio is off.

The electricity is off.

2 :not attached to or covering

The lid is off.

3 :started on the way

They're off on a trip.

4 :not taking place

The game is off.

5 :not correct :wrong

Your guess is way off.

6 :not as good as usual

He's having an off day.

7 :provided for

His family is well off.

8 :small in degree :slight

There's an off chance I'll win.

9 :away from home or work

He's off fishing.

off.

abbreviation

Definition of off. for Students

office

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off

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off

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off

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off

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-off

Definition of -off

Origin and Etymology of -off

OFF Defined for English Language Learners

off

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off

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off

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off

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OFF Defined for Kids

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off

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off

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off.

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