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

More than three-quarters of Americans put off important health check-ups, according to a recent Aflac Wellness Matters Survey. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

What’s more, the same Marvel source said there’s a chance some viewers put off watching Agatha until all episodes were released on Halloween eve, turning the series into a spooky-season binge. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

If that happens, Trump can sweep away his federal prosecutions and put off any sentence for his New York State conviction indefinitely. —Paula Aceves, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024

But Humana and rival operators of Medicare Advantage plans have been hit this year with higher costs in part due to seniors who put off getting medical care during the Covid-19 pandemic and are now returning for treatments. —Bruce Japsen, Forbes, 30 Oct. 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