off Meaning & Definition
What Does Off Mean?
Off is an adverb that means In a direction away from the speaker or other reference point. It can also mean Into a state of non-operation or non-existence. As an adjective, it means Inoperative, disabled. As a preposition, it means Not positioned upon; away from a position upon.
Off: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adverb, adjective, preposition, verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɒf/ |
| Synonyms | sour, disconnected and unsatisfactory |
| Antonyms | on and in |
| Plural | offs |
| Comparative / superlative | more off, most off |
| Verb forms | offs, offing, offed |
Off Definition (Adverb)
- In a direction away from the speaker or other reference point.
He drove off in a cloud of smoke.
- Into a state of non-operation or non-existence.
Please switch off the light when you leave.
- So as to remove or separate, or be removed or separated.
He bit off the end of the carrot.
- Specifying the number of some item in bills, parts lists, etc.
3 off 20 amp fuses
- Offstage.
noises off
- Used in various other ways specific to individual idiomatic phrases, e.g. bring off, show off, put off, tell off, etc. See the entry for the individual phrase.
Off as an Adjective
- Inoperative, disabled.
All the lights are off.
- Cancelled; not happening.
The party's off because the hostess is sick.
- Not fitted; not being worn.
Your feet will feel better once those tight boots are off.
- Denoting something faulty, unsatisfactory, objectionable etc.
Not correct; not properly formed; not logical, harmonious, etc.
This calculation is off: the numbers don't add up.
- Not correct; not properly formed; not logical, harmonious, etc.
This calculation is off: the numbers don't add up.
- Inappropriate; untoward.
I felt that his comments were a bit off.
- Less than normal, in temperament or in result.
sales are off this quarter
- Designating a time when one is not performing to the best of one's abilities.
- Rancid, rotten, gone bad.
This milk is off!
- Disgusting, repulsive, abhorrent.
- Circumstanced.
Our family used to be well off; now we're very badly off.
- Started on the way.
off to see the wizard
- Far; off to the side.
He took me down the corridor and into an off room.
- Temporarily not attending a usual place, such as work or school, especially owing to illness or holiday.
John's off today. He's back on Wednesday.
- Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is absent from a post, and, hence, a time when affairs are not urgent.
He took an off day for fishing. an off year in politics; the off season
- Presently unavailable.
I'll have the chicken please. — Sorry, chicken's off today.
- On the side furthest from the kerb (the right-hand side if one drives on the left).
The off front wheel came loose.
- In, or towards the half of the field away from the batsman's legs; the right side for a right-handed batsman.
- Offsuit.
Off as a Preposition
- Not positioned upon; away from a position upon.
He's off the roof now.
- Detached, separated, excluded or disconnected from; away from a position of attachment or connection to.
The phone is off the hook
- Outside the area or region of.
The suspect is now believed to be off the campus.
- Temporarily not attending (a usual place), especially owing to illness or holiday.
off work; off school
- Used to indicate the location or direction of one thing relative to another, implying adjacency or accessibility via.
His office is off this corridor on the right.
- Used to express location at sea relative to land or mainland.
The island is 23 miles off the cape.
- (Can we verify this sense?) Used to indicate separation from a natural home or origin.
He used to be gone a lot of the time, off working on an oil rig.
- Removed or subtracted from.
There's 20% off the list price.
- No longer wanting or taking.
He's been off his feed since Tuesday.
- Out of the possession of.
He didn't buy it off him. He stole it off him.
- (Should we delete this sense?) Placed after a number (of products or parts, as if a unit), in commerce or engineering.
I'd like to re-order those printer cartridges, let's say 5-off.
- Under the influence of.
The guy was off a perc.
- As a result of; resulting from the actions of.
The team won off a late-game fumble by an opposing player.
Off as a Verb
- To kill.
- To switch off.
Can you off the light?
Off as a Noun
- Beginning; starting point.
He has been very obviously an untrustworthy narrator right from the off.
- The act of a driver accidentally driving their vehicle off the designated circuit.
The world champion had an uncharacteristic off at turn 10.
Synonyms of Off
Off synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Off
Off in a Sentence
He drove off in a cloud of smoke.
Please switch off the light when you leave.
The dinosaurs died off long ago.
He bit off the end of the carrot.
Some branches were sawn off.
Please take your clothes off so that I can examine you.
3 off 20 amp fuses
noises off
All the lights are off.
The party's off because the hostess is sick.
Your feet will feel better once those tight boots are off.
The drink spilled out of the bottle because the top was off.
This calculation is off: the numbers don't add up.
Is it right to say 'the amount of cars'? It sounds off to me.
The guitar isn't tuned properly. The bottom E is off.
I felt that his comments were a bit off.
sales are off this quarter
This milk is off!
Our family used to be well off; now we're very badly off.
How are you off for milk? Shall I get you some more from the shop?
off to see the wizard
And they're off! Whatsmyname takes an early lead, with Remember The Mane behind by a nose.
He took me down the corridor and into an off room.
the off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the nigh or near horse
John's off today. He's back on Wednesday.
He took an off day for fishing. an off year in politics; the off season
I'll have the chicken please. — Sorry, chicken's off today.
The off front wheel came loose.
He's off the roof now.
I took it off the table.
Keep off the grass.
The phone is off the hook
The coat fell off the peg.
He was thrown off the team for cheating.
We've been off the grid for three days now.
We're off their radar.
He's off the computer, but he's still on the phone.
The suspect is now believed to be off the campus.
I couldn't see what it said because the line of text ran off the page.
off work; off school
His office is off this corridor on the right.
We're just off the main road.
Look! There's a UFO off our left wing!
The island is 23 miles off the cape.
He used to be gone a lot of the time, off working on an oil rig.
There's 20% off the list price.
He's been off his feed since Tuesday.
He's off his meds again.
He didn't buy it off him. He stole it off him.
I'd like to re-order those printer cartridges, let's say 5-off.
The guy was off a perc.
The team won off a late-game fumble by an opposing player.
The economy is rising off the strength of the tech sector.
Smith hit a home-run off the pitcher.
Can you off the light?
He has been very obviously an untrustworthy narrator right from the off.
The world champion had an uncharacteristic off at turn 10.
Word Forms & Grammar
off (not comparable)
off (comparative more off, superlative most off)
off
off (third-person singular simple present offs, present participle offing, simple past and past participle offed)
off (countable and uncountable, plural offs)
Words That Rhyme With Off
Origin of Off
From Middle English of, from Old English of, af, æf (“from, off, away”), from Proto-West Germanic *ab, from Proto-Germanic *ab (“from”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epo (“from, off, back”). Doublet of of.
Frequently Asked Questions About Off
Is off an adverb or an adjective?
Off is mainly used as an adverb, but it can also be used as an adjective, a preposition, a verb and a noun.
What is another word for off?
Words with a similar meaning to off include sour, disconnected and unsatisfactory. See the full list of off synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of off?
The plural of off is offs.
What is the past tense of off?
The past tense of off is offed. The present participle is offing.