get off

verb

got off; got off or gotten off; getting off; gets off

intransitive verb

1

: to avoid the most serious consequences of a dangerous situation or punishment

got off with a light sentence

2

: start, leave

got off on the trip early

3

: to leave work with permission or as scheduled

4

: to get high on a drug

5

: to experience orgasm

6

: to experience great pleasure

—often used with on

transitive verb

1

: to secure the release of or procure a modified penalty for

his lawyers got him off

2

a

: utter

get off a joke

b

: to write and send

3

: to succeed in doing, making, or delivering

4

: to cause to get off

Synonyms of get off

• depart
• move
• exit
• get
• go
• pull out
• peel off
• push off
• go off
• walk out
• run along
• take off
• cut out
• escape
• start
• bail out
• clear off
• clear out
• step (along)
• push on
• evacuate
• dig out

Examples of get off in a Sentence

told him to get off for home before it got dark

breakfast helps you get off to a good start in the morning

Recent Examples on the Web

The defense couldn’t get off the field, and the offense collapsed by way of its mistakes. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026

The announcement is a big step in Jaguar’s relaunch, which got off to a decidedly rocky start in 2024. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

The basement, about the size of the gym in the police department’s new training center, soon filled up as people got off work. — Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

Drake Maye was an MVP candidate last year but got off to a horrible start this season before a big win Sunday against Buffalo. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026

The offense couldn't get going and the defense couldn't get off the field. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Meta got off to an early lead with Muse, which has been downloaded more than 3 million times. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The unit got off to a rocky start this season but there’s been recent improvement. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026

The Steelers got off the offensive schneid this past Sunday, dropping 30 on the resurgent Bengals defense. — The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for get off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

get off

verb

1

: set out sense 2

got off on their camping trip

2

: to escape or help to escape punishment or harm