1
a(1)
: from a place or position
march off
specifically
: away from land
ship stood off to sea
(2)
: at a distance in space or time
stood 10 paces off
a long way off
b
: from a course : aside
turned off into a bypath
specifically
: away from the wind
The ship eased off a point or two.
c
: into an unconscious state
dozed off
2
a
: so as to be separated from support
rolled to the edge of the table and off
or close contact
blew the lid off
the handle came off
b
: so as to be divided
surface marked off into squares
3
a
: to a state of discontinuance or suspension
shut off an engine
b
—used as an intensifier
drink off a glass
finish it off
4
: in absence from or suspension of regular work or service
take time off for lunch
5
: offstage
The actor turns and goes off.
1
a
—used as a function word to indicate physical separation or distance from a position of rest, attachment, or union
take it off the table
a path off the main walk
a shop just off the main street
b
: to seaward of
two miles off shore
2
: from the possession or charge of
had his wallet stolen off him
3
—used as a function word to indicate the object of an action
borrowed a dollar off him
dined off oysters
4
a
—used as a function word to indicate the suspension of an occupation or activity
off duty
off liquor
b
: below the usual standard or level of
off his game
2
a
: started on the way
off on a spree
b
: not taking place or staying in effect : canceled
the deal was off
c
: not operating
d
: not placed so as to permit operation
3
4
a
: spent off duty
reading on his off days
b
: marked by a periodic decline in activity or business
traveled in the off season for lower prices
5
6
: circumstanced
worse off
office; officer; official
ˌȯf
: competition : contest
cook-off
dance-off
Synonyms
Adverb
Adjective
- bad
- bastard
- bush
- bush-league
- crummy
- crumby
- deficient
- dissatisfactory
- ill
- inferior
- lame
- lousy
- paltry
- poor
- punk
- sour
- suboptimal
- subpar
- substandard
- unacceptable
- unsatisfactory
- wack [slang]
- wanting
- wretched
- wrong
Verb
Examples of off in a Sentence
Adverb
She put on her jacket and off she went.
The car turned off onto a side street.
Preposition
She is still living off her parents.
The family lives off welfare.
They live off the land.
They make their living off tourism.
Adjective
The lever is in the off position.
He is off playing golf.
She is off on a trip.
Verb
The movie is about a gangster who gets power by offing his rivals.
the hit man was rumored to have offed at least three people in the last year alone
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
While average wage gains continue to outstrip price hikes, leaving many households better off than before the pandemic, steeper expenses for everything from child care to home insurance have left plenty of consumers fed up and looking for change.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
By the time the British — doubly warned by the IRA and by the Palace Barracks, who tipped off Scotland Yard after getting wind of the plan through an informant — get to the bombs, the crew is already at Heathrow.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2024
The key to success is to switch your attention from keyword optimization to offering genuine value through interactive features, user-centric content and effective off-page methods.
—Adhip Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Nick Romano, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Anton offs his parents and his besties before figuring out what’s going on.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for off 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
Staff writer Laura Lancaster’s ideal headlamp would have a single button for on, off, and red.
—Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
While average wage gains continue to outstrip price hikes, leaving many households better off than before the pandemic, steeper expenses for everything from child care to home insurance have left plenty of consumers fed up and looking for change.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Preposition
Follow Taylor Swift’s advice after Chiefs debacle: Shake it off.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
By the time the British — doubly warned by the IRA and by the Palace Barracks, who tipped off Scotland Yard after getting wind of the plan through an informant — get to the bombs, the crew is already at Heathrow.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The biggest problem with the bullpen approach is that the more pitchers a team uses in a game, the chances multiply of at least one of them having an off night.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2024
The key to success is to switch your attention from keyword optimization to offering genuine value through interactive features, user-centric content and effective off-page methods.
—Adhip Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
The Penguin, which brings back Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb from that first movie, is similarly a Scarface story about a low-level gangster who takes advantage of a power vacuum in the criminal underworld after the Riddler offed his boss, mobster Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Anton offs his parents and his besties before figuring out what’s going on.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for off
Dictionary Entries Near off
Cite this Entry
“Off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
off
1 of 3 adverb1
a
: from a place or position
march off
stood 10 paces off
drove the dogs off
b
: from a course : aside
turned off onto a side street
c
: into an unconscious state
dozed off
2
: so as to be separated from support or close contact
rolled to the edge of the table and off
the handle came off
3
: so as to be divided
surface marked off into squares
4
: so as to be stopped or finished
shut off an engine
a coat of paint to finish it off
5
: away from work
took the day off
off
2 of 3 preposition(ˈ)ȯf
1
: away from the surface, position, or place of
take it off the table
the ball bounced off the wall
a path off the main road
2
—used to indicate the object of an action
borrowed a dollar off him
living off my parents
3
a
: released or freed from
off duty
b
: below the usual level of
off her game
a dollar off the price
off
3 of 3 adjective(ˈ)ȯf
1
a
: not left : right
the off horse
b
: more distant
the off side of the building
2
: started on the way
off on a trip
they're off and running
3
a
: not taking place
the game is off
b
: not operating
the radio is off
4
5
: being not as busy as usual
liked to vacation during the off season
6
a
: not very good : poor
an off grade of oil
b
: below or down from the normal
stocks were off
offered at 15% off
7
: provided for or taken care of
we were better off before
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