put off

verb

put off; putting off; puts off
Synonyms of put offnext

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 of put off

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to Singhal, common signs include procrastination, impatience, feeling overwhelmed, and putting off decisions altogether. — Kriti Kumar, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026 Perez put off college to take over her parents' landscaping business and care for her family in their absence. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 MonthiraYodtiwong/Getty Images There are some financial conversations families can put off without much consequence, but a discussion about end-of-life plans with aging family members isn't necessarily one of them. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Some low-lying communities have been warned for years to prepare for rising sea levels, Ainsworth said, but have put off the inevitable. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for put off

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of put off was in the 14th century

Rhymes for put off

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Browse Nearby Words

Putnam scale
put off
put-on
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Cite this Entry

“Put off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20off. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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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
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