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

The current proposal allows the board to increase the fees 30 days after a vote, but it may be put off until the people mover is working, Reich added. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Boston, meanwhile, put off announcing its plans until last month, as delays in federal and state funding caused organizing chaos for both the seven matches at Gillette Stadium and the festival. —Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026

Still, Maria put off ending the relationship for some time. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026

Funk and Vater say these tasks are worth putting off until the last threat of freezing temperatures has passed. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 4 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