Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » off

off

Listen See in Thesaurus

Off means to keep someone or something away or to separate from. (adverb)

An example of off is removing a hat from your head.
An example of off is sending a child to their grandparents house for a vacation.

Off means to be no longer in a functioning position. (adverb)

An example of off is a lawn mower that is not turned on.

Off means to be less than. (adverb)

An example of off is to pay a discounted price of 25%.

Off describes something that is no longer attached, no longer in operation or no longer happening. (adjective)

An example of off is when a person removes their jacket from their body.
An example of off is when a person stops their car and removes the keys from the ignition.
An example of off is when a scheduled dinner is no longer taking place.

See off in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adverb

so as to be or keep away, at a distance, to a side, etc.: to move off, to ward off
so as to be measured, divided, etc.: to pace off, to mark off
so as to be no longer on, attached, united, covering, in contact, etc.: take off your hat, the paint wore off
(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
so as to be less, smaller, fewer, etc.: to allow 5% off for cash
so as to lose consciousness: to doze off
away from one's work or usual activity: to take a week off

(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
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
coming or branching out from: an alley off Main Street
free or relieved from: off duty
not up to the usual level, standard, etc. of: off one's game
less than; taken from: 25% off the regular price
Informal no longer using, engaging in, supporting, etc.; abstaining from: to be off liquor
Informal from: I bought it off a friend

adjective

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

noun

the fact or condition of being off: turn the switch from off to on
Cricket the off side

transitive verb

Slang to kill; murder

interjection

go away; stay away

offered
office
officer
official

See off in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(ôf, ŏf)

adverb

From a place or position: drove off.
a. At a certain distance in space or time: a mile off; a week off.
b. From a given course or route; aside: swerved off into a ditch.
c. Into a state of unconsciousness: I must have dozed off.
a. So as to be no longer on, attached, or connected: shaved off his mustache.
b. So as to be divided: marked off the playing field by yards.
So as to be no longer continuing, operating, or functioning: switched off the radio.
So as to be completely removed, finished, or eliminated: kill off the mice.
So as to be smaller, fewer, or less: Sales dropped off.
So as to be away from work or duty: They took a day off.
Offstage.

adjective

a. Distant or removed; farther: the off side of the barn.
b. Remote; slim: stopped by on the off chance that they're home.
Not on, attached, or connected: with my shoes off.
Not operating or operational: The oven is off.
No longer taking place; canceled: The wedding is off.
Slack: Production was off this year.
a. Not up to standard; below a normal or satisfactory level: Your pitching is off today.
b. Not accurate; incorrect: Your statistical results are off.
c. Somewhat crazy; eccentric: I think that person is a little off.
Started on the way; going: I'm off to see the president.
a. Absent or away from work or duty: She's off every Tuesday.
b. Spent away from work or duty: My off day is Saturday.
a. Being on the right side of an animal or vehicle.
b. Being the animal or vehicle on the right.
Nautical Farthest from the shore; seaward.
Sports Toward or designating the side of the field facing the batsman in cricket.
Off-color.

preposition

So as to be removed or distant from: The bird hopped off the branch.
Away or relieved from: off duty.
a. By consuming: living off locusts and honey.
b. With the means provided by: living off my pension.
c. Informal From: “What else do you want off me?” (Jimmy Breslin).
Extending or branching out from: an artery off the heart.
Not up to the usual standard of: off his game.
So as to abstain from: went off narcotics.
Nautical To seaward of: a mile off Sandy Hook.

verb offed, off·ing, offs

verb, intransitive

To go away; leave: Off or I'll call the police.

verb, transitive
Slang

To murder.

Usage Note: The compound preposition off of is generally regarded as informal and is best avoided in formal speech and writing: He stepped off (not off of) the platform. Off is informal as well when used to indicate a source: formal style requires I borrowed it from (not off) my brother.

Learn more about off

» off synonyms

» Off abbreviations & acronyms

» off phrase meanings

» off quote examples

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

Feedback