off of

preposition

: off
Usage of Off of

The of is often criticized as superfluous, a comment that is irrelevant because off of is an idiom. It is much more common in speech than in edited writing and is more common in American English than in British.

Examples of off of 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.
Joining forces with Garrett would help Wilson take some stress off of his body. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025 He’s accused of stabbing to death four University of Idaho students in a house off of the college campus in Moscow in November 2022. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Mar. 2025 The performance was the result of the orbit of the Earth carrying it between the sun and the moon in a perfect alignment that temporarily blocked the sunlight that usually reflects off of the lunar surface, giving it its glow. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025 When the dishes arrived, Lloyd, who is a pescetarian, picked the bacon off of his and passed it to Bond. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for off of

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off of was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20of. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

off of

preposition
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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