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

Home Depot has been pressured by lower housing turnover, higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty as customers have put off projects that come with buying a new home. — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Buying school supplies is something parents don’t put off, studies show. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

That discretion, sources say, can lead to repairs getting put off and at times ignored. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

Don’t put off talking with him, even if the subject is uncomfortable for one or both of you. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 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