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

And taking this path would be far preferable, for Ukraine and the alliance, than continuing to put off membership until Putin has given up his ambitions in Ukraine, or until Russian has made a military breakthrough. —M. E. Sarotte, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2024

Though Sweeney, 69, had done well for herself in a career in banking software in the states and even retired early in Florida, she was put off by the increasingly high costs of housing and health care. —Byalicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 7 July 2024

The additional scrutiny is putting off some once-eager investors hoping to set up in Singapore. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Asia, 3 July 2024

The Supreme Court puts off ruling on whether state social media laws violate the 1st Amendment. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 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