put off

verb

put off; putting off; puts off

transitive verb

1
b
: repel
2
a
: to hold back to a later time
b
: to induce to wait
put the bill collector off
3
: to rid oneself of : take off
4
: to sell or pass fraudulently

Examples of put off in a Sentence

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today put off your coat and stay awhile
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The conventional wisdom is that immigrants—particularly Latino ones—would be put off by Trump’s border bluster. Basel Touchan, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024 She is expected to take the party’s policies firmly to the right, a move which could put off more moderate Conservative voters. Katie Marie Davies, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Nov. 2024 Harris's campaign pushed hard on Trump's character, legal troubles, and the turmoil of his first administration—such as the January 6 Capitol riot—hoping voters would be put off by the idea of returning to the 2017 to 2021 era. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024 The report does not say, but this bump outside of freshmen may be another indication of the Covid bounce – the return of people who left or put off school due to Covid. Derek Newton, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for put off 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of put off was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near put off

Cite this Entry

“Put off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20off. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

put off

verb
1
: to cause negative feelings in
your sloppy appearance put them off
2
: to hold back to a later time : defer
put off my visit to the dentist
3
: to rid oneself of
put off your coat

More from Merriam-Webster on put off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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