put off

verb

put off; putting off; puts off

transitive verb

1

a

: disconcert

b

: repel

2

a

: to hold back to a later time

b

: to induce to wait

put the bill collector off

3

: to rid oneself of : take off

4

: to sell or pass fraudulently

Synonyms of put off

• postpone
• delay
• put over
• defer

Examples of put off in a Sentence

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

put off your coat and stay awhile

Recent Examples on the Web

Perez put off college to take over her parents' landscaping business and care for her family in their absence. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

MonthiraYodtiwong/Getty Images There are some financial conversations families can put off without much consequence, but a discussion about end-of-life plans with aging family members isn't necessarily one of them. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Some low-lying communities have been warned for years to prepare for rising sea levels, Ainsworth said, but have put off the inevitable. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

For example, footwear and athletic apparel sales have slowed as shoppers put off buying trendy items. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for put off

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

Kids Definition

put off

verb

1

: to cause negative feelings in

your sloppy appearance put them off

2

: to hold back to a later time : defer

put off my visit to the dentist

3

: to rid oneself of

put off your coat