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

• defer
• delay
• hold off (on)
• hold over
• hold up
• lay over
• postpone
• put over
• remit
• shelve

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

For example, a commuter who is reliant on their vehicle to get to work cannot put off repairs that keep their vehicle running. —Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

Don't give in to distractions like checking your phone in meetings, leaving tasks incomplete or putting off difficult conversations. —Veronica Angela, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Canadians put off by Trump’s bluster and border arrests are booking far fewer U.S. visits. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Original price: $110 Versace Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette Spray is the perfect spring fragrance that puts off distinctly feminine notes of peony, lotus and magnolia. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 2 May 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