drain off
phrasal verb
drained off; draining off; drains off
1
: to cause (a liquid) to flow away from something or to leave the surface of something
When the beans have cooked long enough to be tender, drain off the water and set them aside.
2
: to take (something important or valuable) from something
An independent candidate could drain off votes from either party.
Examples of drain off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just tilt the bowl to drain off any liquid, which will collect at the bottom of the bowl.
—
Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2025
Place back on the rack to drain off any excess oil.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
Lemon trees need a chunky mix that lets water drain off quickly, Fleming says.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2025
It is best served the day it is made but will keep for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, draining off excess juice if needed.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
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Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2025
Place back on the rack to drain off any excess oil.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
Lemon trees need a chunky mix that lets water drain off quickly, Fleming says.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2025
It is best served the day it is made but will keep for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, draining off excess juice if needed.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drain off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drain%20off. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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