the off
noun
British
1
: the beginning of a race
2
: the very beginning
Right from the off, I knew she was against me.
Examples of the off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hard on the body American snowboarder Nick Baumgartner, 44, who placed seventh in the snowboard cross in Milan, calls himself the #BlueCollarOlympian on social media — a nod to his work pouring concrete in the off-season.
—
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
All-wheel drive is available, and specialty Maverick versions include the off-road-capable Tremor and the sporty Lobo.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
No single player has helped Newcastle rediscover their all-action identity in recent games more than Gordon, who pressed from the off and scored inside 121 seconds.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
But in the off-season, O’Shea underwent foot surgery that required two plates and 11 screws to repair the damage.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
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Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
All-wheel drive is available, and specialty Maverick versions include the off-road-capable Tremor and the sporty Lobo.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
No single player has helped Newcastle rediscover their all-action identity in recent games more than Gordon, who pressed from the off and scored inside 121 seconds.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
But in the off-season, O’Shea underwent foot surgery that required two plates and 11 screws to repair the damage.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the off
Cite this Entry
“The off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20off. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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