off

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ɒf/, SAMPA: /Qf/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ɔf/ or /ɑf/, SAMPA: /Of/ or /Af/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adverb

Positive off

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. Away from somewhere or some time.

   I got ready and by 7:00 I was off to school.

   There's a nice restaurant just off the main road.

   Bye, I'll be off now.

   He was standing about 50 m off.

   Your birthday's only a few days off now.

2. If something is off it is not on.

   He pushed the book off the table, and it fell to the floor.

   She took the hat off his head.

   Keep your feet off the desk, please.

3. Out of a vehicle such as a train, bus, etc.

   As the train stopped, he jumped off and ran to her.

4. If something that uses energy is off, it is not working.

   It was dark in the room because the light was off.

   He turned the TV off and went to bed.

5. If you are off, you do not have to go to work or to school.

   I work evenings, but I have my afternoons off.

6. made smaller by a certain amount

   They've taken 30% off the price.

   We cut off a few pieces.

7. If a plan, event, etc. is off, it will not happen.

   Tonight's game is off because of the rain.

   They've called off the meeting.

Preposition

Preposition off

1. If you're off something, you don't like or want something you wanted before.

   That article really put me off meat.

2. If you're off some medicine, you are not using it any more.

   He's been off the pain killers for a few weeks.

Synonyms

• (go away) going
• (not giving light) out, unlit, unlighted

Antonyms

• (not on) on, on top of
• (not giving light) on, lit, lighted

Related words

go off one-off off-again-on-again off-and-on off-color off-hand off-the-wall off the charts

off the hook off the top of your head off your rocker off switch takeoff take off turn off offing

Adjective

Positive off

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. (not before a noun) If food is off, it is not good to eat anymore.

   The meat smells off.

Synonyms

• bad
• rotten
• expired

Antonyms

• good

Verb

Plain form off

Third-person singular offs

Past tense offed

Past participle offed

Present participle offing

1. If a person offs someone, they kill him or her.

   I heard they offed Jimmy by drowning.

Synonyms

• kill
• murder