off Hear it!

off¹ Definition

off (ôf, äf)

adverb

  1. so as to be or keep away, at a distance, to a side, etc. to move off, to ward off
  2. so as to be measured, divided, etc. to pace off, to mark off
  3. so as to be no longer on, attached, united, covering, in contact, etc. take off your hat, the paint wore off
  4. (a specified distance) away:
    1. in space a town ten miles off
    2. in time a date two weeks off
    1. so as to be no longer in operation, function, continuance, etc. turn the motor off
    2. to the point of completion, extinction, or exhaustion drink it off
  5. so as to be less, smaller, fewer, etc. to allow 5% off for cash
  6. so as to lose consciousness to doze off
  7. away from one's work or usual activity to take a week off

Etymology: LME var. of of, of, later generalized for all occurrences of of in stressed positions

  1. (so as to be) no longer (or not) on, attached to, united with, covering, in contact with, etc. it blew off the desk; a car went off the road
  2. away from but not far from to live off campus, anchored off the lee shore
    1. from the substance of; on to live off an inheritance
    2. at the expense of
  3. coming or branching out from an alley off Main Street
  4. free or relieved from off duty
  5. not up to the usual level, standard, etc. of off one's game
  6. less than; taken from 25% off the regular price
  7. Informal no longer using, engaging in, supporting, etc.; abstaining from to be off liquor
  8. Informal from I bought it off a friend

adjective

  1. not on, attached, united, etc. his hat is off
  2. not in operation, function, continuance, etc. the motor is off
  3. gone away; on the way be off to bed
    1. less, smaller, fewer, etc. sales are off
    2. lower in value
  4. away from work, etc.; absent the maid is off today
  5. not up to what is usual, normal, standard, etc. an off day
  6. more remote; further on the off chance, the off side
  7. on the right side, facing forward: said of an animal in double harness, a wagon wheel, etc.
  8. in (specified) circumstances to be well off
  9. not correct; in error; wrong his figures are off
  10. Informal not quite normal in thinking, behavior, etc.; mildly eccentric
  11. Cricket designating the side of the field facing the batsman

noun

  1. the fact or condition of being off turn the switch from off to on
  2. Cricket the off side

transitive verb

Slang to kill; murder

go away; stay away

off¹ Idioms

off and on

now and then; intermittently

off with!

put off!take off!remove!

off with you!

go away!depart!

off² Definition

off

  1. offered
  2. office
  3. officer
  4. official

off Synonyms

off

modif. & prep.

  1. Situated at a distance

    ahead, behind, up front, to one side, divergent, beside, aside, below, beneath, above, far, afar, absent, not here, removed, apart, in the distance, at a distance, gone, away; see also distant 1.

    Antonyms here*, at hand, present. *

  2. Moving away

    into the distance, away from, farther away, disappearing, vanishing, removing, sheering off, turning aside; see also away 1.

    Antonyms returning*, coming*, approaching. *

  3. Started

    initiated, commenced, originated; see begun.

  4. Mistaken

    erring, in error, confused; see mistaken 1, wrong 2.

  5. *Crazy

    odd, peculiar, queer; see insane 1.

  6. *Not employed

    not on duty, on vacation, gone; see unemployed.

  7. Not up to standard

    substandard, abnormal, subnormal, unproductive; see poor 2.

get off on*

vb enjoy, appreciate, take pleasure in; see like 1.

off Quotes

StopThe World, I Want to Get Off.

—Anonymous