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

Crude oil prices slipped after eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries decided to put off increasing oil production. —Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024

If so, congratulations, but please don't be put off playing if not. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2024

First, don’t be put off by slower financial returns. —Elena Bou, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

Hard-core players and designers may want to step up to a more powerful graphics card, and some users will be put off by the system's loud fans, lackluster speakers, and slightly mushy keyboard. —PCMAG, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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