put off

verb

put off; putting off; puts off

transitive verb

1

a

: disconcert

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

Synonyms

• defer
• delay
• hold off (on)
• hold over
• hold up
• lay over
• postpone
• put over
• remit
• shelve

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

Upon her arrival, she’s put off by the presence of Camille’s two close friends Isaac (Jeremy O. Harris) and AJ (James Cusati-Moyer). —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025

Many spoke of putting off seeing doctors and dentists and foregoing the purchase of prescription drugs. —Noreen Sugrue, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Maintaining our home was a source of stress, so in the first few months, options for downsizing or relocating were a priority—though ultimately put off for a couple of years thanks to a low interest rate from a recent refinance. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025

This one kept the practice to a minimum, putting off several more significant health reforms. —Peter Sullivan, Axios, 8 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for put off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

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