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

Bessent explicitly urged investors not to react negatively should Trump put off his trip. —Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026

Will seven-time Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio, a California native who has been marooned in Cleveland for 12 seasons, put off retirement? —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026

But Radcliffe wasn’t so easily put off. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Americans are also making other sacrifices, such as delaying a job change, putting off buying a new home or postponing growing their family. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Mar. 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