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

Places get popular for a reason and then the crowds and costs start to put off some travelers. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2024

Two weeks ago, the council had put off its vote after Park requested an extension to address concerns from the home’s owners and from area residents, who have expressed concerns about privacy and safety with the designation. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 26 June 2024

Mulligan’s bare-bones budget puts off $5 billion in system expansion, a figure that includes grants from Phase 2 of the Second Ave. subway. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 26 June 2024

Nearly half of those living in Mallorca are employed by the tourism industry And protests are already putting off visitors. —Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 25 June 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