the off

noun

British
1
: the beginning of a race
2
: the very beginning
Right from the off, I knew she was against me.

Examples of the off in a Sentence

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.
That said, conditions look tranquil for travel toward the Christmas holiday with just the off chance of a rain or snow shower by Tuesday of next week. Bill Kelly, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025 Dugan's defense team is expected to dispute the details of the off-the-record audio. John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 15 Dec. 2025 Death-defying acts are usually performed at the circus, but watching the off-Broadway musical, Slam Frank, is like witnessing a handful of actors juggling scalpels while traversing a tightrope strung over a field of burning truck tires… and singing and dancing to some very catchy music. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 15 Dec. 2025 But the off-field changes shouldn’t be discounted. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the off

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20off. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!