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

Consultant and lecturer Schwope expects much less drastic action, and any decisions will likely be put off until the 2030s. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Belgium reportedly was granted the right to appeal the decision and asked FIFA for a comprehensive explanation on why the suspension was put off. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Don’t be put off by the 35 bar charts, said the Times Literary Supplement. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 July 2026

For anyone who has been putting off a checkup, over the counter hearing aids have made treatment easier to access than ever, which turns this into one of the simplest risk factors on the list to actually address. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 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