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

Most savvy shoppers these days are hardly put off by where an item sits in the store, and Chavarria says his menswear is often bought by women. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

The reality is, putting off having these discussions does not do anyone any favors. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 26 June 2026

Friends and couples are gathering around kitchen tables with laptops, snacks and the kind of nagging errands most people put off for months. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026

After winning the Jimmys, a lot of kids end up getting jobs and putting off or skipping college. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 26 June 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