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

• 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

All of the backup plans that people are preparing to enact - borrowing, trying to visit food banks, putting off other bills - have their own costs and downstream effects. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025

Hoka Women’s Transport Shoes This cushy shoe is designed with a rocker bottom that pushes you into your next step, putting off foot fatigue for longer. —Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025

Williams, a third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive selection last season, tore the scapholunate ligament in his wrist on April 9 but put off surgery until after the Thunder’s historic run. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025

While some folks are put off by raw fennel’s pushy licorice taste, the flavors mellow as its edges soften and become slightly sweet and lush. —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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