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

Symptoms can mimic acid reflux, leading some people to put off seeking medical attention until an emergency arises. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Being wrong puts off neither prophets nor their followers. —Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

This should sweeten the deal for users not put off by many of Tesla's recent self-driving malfunctions. —Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2025

Jordan also wrote that Melania Trump was put off by the way Ivanka Trump sought the limelight during the 2017 inauguration and transformed herself into the de facto first lady in the first months of Trump’s administration, when Melania chose to stay in New York with her son, Barron. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025

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