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

• 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

And yet, not wanting to dampen the mood now that Aidan is finally in New York for an extended period of time, Carrie puts off confronting this truth. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 25 July 2025

Despite relatively low unemployment, hiring data indicates that younger, entry-level workers have been increasingly struggling to get their foot in the door as employers put off hiring plans amid wider economic uncertainty and some industries, like government and tech, having slashed workers. —Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 16 July 2025

The fact that your attic is one of the hottest spots in your home should be reason enough to put off this decluttering job. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 12 July 2025

The young, eager, immersion-friendly actors weren’t at all put off by the proximity to the actual inmates. —Scott Huver, People.com, 10 July 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