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Definition off in American English

off adjective, adverb, preposition

adjective, adverb, preposition
/ɔf/

Off can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: He waved and drove off.She took her coat off and hung it up.My house is a long way off.

as a preposition: She got off the bus at the next stop.Keep off the grass. In spoken American English off of is often used instead of the preposition off, but many speakers of British English think that this is not correct.

as an adjective: I’m having an off day.

1

leaving a place, or going away from something

Example

With only $150 in his pocket, he set off for New Mexico.

Example

I'd never let an 11-year-old kid go off on his own.

Example

If you don't need me any more, I'll be off.

Example

I'm off to Vancouver next Tuesday.

2

leaving a plane, train, bus, etc.

Example

Ask the driver to stop the bus so we can get off.

Example

They didn't see each other till they got off the plane.

Example

I couldn't wait to get off of the ship.

Synonyms and related words
3

not on the top or surface of something, especially after being on it

Example

The wind blew a flowerpot off the balcony.

Example

Hold on tight so you don't slip off.

Example

I had to scrape the dirt off the walls.

Example

I was so surprised I nearly fell off my chair.

Example

She tried to push the dog off of her but it kept jumping up.

Example

There was a sign saying "Keep off the grass."

Synonyms and related words
4

no longer connected to someone or something

Example

They cut a branch off the tree.

Example

Cindy was playing with the doll when its leg fell off.

Example

The handle came off of the coffee pot again.

5

a machine or piece of electrical equipment that is off is not switched on or is not being used

Example

The lights were off in the big house.

Example

I saw that all the machines were turned off.

Synonyms and related words
6

used for saying that clothes or shoes are removed

Example

We told the children to take off their wet clothes.

Example

She kicked off her shoes and settled down on the sofa.

Synonyms and related words
7

near a particular street, road, etc., but not directly on it

7.1

near a particular street, road, etc., but not directly on it

Example

The restaurant is just off the main road.

Synonyms and related words
Example

You'll find a bathroom just off the master bedroom.

Synonyms and related words
7.3

in a part of the ocean that is near the land

Example

Two miles off the coast, we sailed right into the storm.

Example

Coast Guard boats stopped the smugglers off of the Florida Keys.

Synonyms and related words
8

not at work, for example because you are not well or because it is not a normal working day

Example

I'm considering taking quite a bit of time off work.

Example

We're planning a trip to the zoo on my day off.

Example

I took two weeks off in August.

Example

She's off sick today.

Synonyms and related words
9

not talking about a particular subject

Example

We were told to stay off the subject of babies.

10

used for saying that an event is no longer going to take place as planned

Example

Sorry, but the meeting's off.

Example

Tonight's game has been called off because of bad weather.

11.1

no longer taking drugs or other harmful substances

Example

I've been off alcohol now for three weeks.

Example

He went to a treatment center where he was gradually weaned off heroin.

Synonyms and related words
11.2

no longer eating or drinking something, or no longer doing an activity because you do not like it any more

Example

I'm off sweet things at the moment.

Example

I've gone off watching daytime talk shows.

12

used for saying that a price has been reduced by a particular amount

Example

There's now 30% off all swimsuits.

Example

Shares fell almost 10%, wiping $400 million off the company's value.

Example

They agreed to take $5 off the price.

Synonyms and related words
13

used for saying how much time there is between the present and a time or event in the future

13.1

used for saying how much time there is between the present and a time or event in the future

Example

Christmas is only three weeks off.

Example

Retirement is still a long time off.

Synonyms and related words
Example

Their farm is only twenty miles off.

Example

The nearest seaside resort is a long way off.

Synonyms and related words
14

used for saying which person or thing something is taken from

Example

Let's see if we can get some money off my Dad.

Example

I got your phone number off the members' list.

15

not within a particular area

Example

People were warned to stay off the streets.

Synonyms and related words
16

strange, or unusual

Example

Something about the way he talked was a little off.

Synonyms and related words
17

food that is off is no longer fresh and is not good to eat

Example

This cream is slightly off.

Example

This meat smells as if it's gone off.

Synonyms and related words
18

to be rich/poor

18.2

to have a large/small amount of something

Example

Most of the colleges are pretty well off for computers.

Example

The kids are quite badly off for clothes.

Example

How are you off for money?

Synonyms and related words
18.3

to be in a situation that is better/worse for you than another one

Example

I'm starting to think I'd be better off without him.

Example

You couldn't be any worse off than you are now.

19

used for saying that a machine or piece of equipment works by using a type of fuel or electricity

Example

Most modern cars run off lead-free gas.

Definition off in American English

Related Words

Words related to off:

back off (phrasal verb) bad off (adjective) bake-off (noun) beat off (phrasal verb) beg off (phrasal verb) beg off (verb) bite off (phrasal verb) blow off (phrasal verb) box off (phrasal verb) bug off (phrasal verb) bump off (phrasal verb) burn off (phrasal verb) buy off (phrasal verb) buzz off (phrasal verb) call off (phrasal verb) cap off (phrasal verb) cart off (phrasal verb) cast off (phrasal verb) chip off (phrasal verb) chop off (phrasal verb) come off (phrasal verb) cook-off (noun) cool off (phrasal verb) cry off (phrasal verb) cut off (phrasal verb) dab off (phrasal verb) dash off (phrasal verb) die off (phrasal verb) doze off (phrasal verb) draw off (phrasal verb) drop off (phrasal verb) drop-off (noun) drop-off (adjective) dry off (phrasal verb) dust off (phrasal verb) ease off (phrasal verb) face off (phrasal verb) face-off (noun) fall off (phrasal verb) fall-off (noun) far-off (adjective) feed off (phrasal verb) fire off (phrasal verb) flip off (phrasal verb) fuck off (phrasal verb) get off (phrasal verb) give off (phrasal verb) go off (phrasal verb) goof off (phrasal verb) goof-off (noun) haul off (phrasal verb) have off (phrasal verb) head off (phrasal verb) hold off (phrasal verb) jerk off (phrasal verb) jump off (phrasal verb) keep off (phrasal verb) kick off (phrasal verb) kill off (phrasal verb) kiss off (phrasal verb) kiss-off (noun) lay off (phrasal verb) lead off (phrasal verb) let off (phrasal verb) lift off (phrasal verb) lift-off (noun) live off (phrasal verb) log off (phrasal verb) lop off (phrasal verb) mail off (phrasal verb) make off (phrasal verb) mark off (phrasal verb) move off (phrasal verb) nick off (phrasal verb) nod off (phrasal verb) off (adjective, adverb, preposition) off (verb) off base (phrase) off day (noun) off duty (phrase) off hand (phrase) off-beam (adjective) off-duty (adjective) off-key (adjective, adverb) off-peak (adjective, adverb) off-ramp (noun) off-site (noun) off-year (noun) on-off (adjective) one-off (noun) one-off (adjective) open off (phrasal verb) pack off (phrasal verb) pair off (phrasal verb) palm off (phrasal verb) pass off (phrasal verb) pawn off (phrasal verb) pay off (phrasal verb) peel off (phrasal verb) pick off (phrasal verb)