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off [ awf, of ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to indicate separation or distance between two points, especially movement away from the speaker
  (adv) He ran off before I could stop him.
(prep) The bottle rolled off the ledge and fell to the floor. |
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1. preposition so as to leave: so as to come out of or leave a bus, train, or plane
Check you have all your belongings before getting off the bus.
He got off at the next stop.
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2. preposition so as to keep away from: so as to keep away from, avoid stepping on, or be at a distance from or to the side of
The sign said "Please keep off the grass."
I stepped off the curb.
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3. preposition away from work: away from work or usual duties owing to illness, holidays, or normal nonwork time
trying to get time off work to visit her in the hospital
I didn't see Jane - it must be her night off.
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4. preposition reduced by: so as to be reduced by a particular amount
10 percent off all swimwear this week
She knocked $10 off for the slight stain on the sleeve.
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5. preposition in future: a particular distance away in the future
My fortieth birthday is only two years off!
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6. preposition so as to remove: so as to eliminate or remove something from view
The dirt should wash off easily.
He was rubbing something off the board when I came in.
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7. adverb to distant place: so as to be away from the present location
He hopped in the car, started it up, and took off.
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8. adverb away: at a particular physical distance away
The nearest stop's about two miles off.
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9. adverb measured: so as to be divided or measured
Measure the gap, mark it off with a pencil, and cut the wood to size.
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10. adverb to completion: to the point of completion
We're trying to get our bills paid off.
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11. adverb into particular state: into a particular state, especially an unconscious state
The baby dozed off on the way over here.
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12. preposition abstaining from: no longer participating in or using
I'm off caffeine for a week.
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13. preposition on diet of: using as a means of subsistence
living off vegetables from our garden
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14. preposition leading away from: near or next to, and leading or branching away from
He lives in an apartment block just off the main street.
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15. preposition not liking: no longer inclined toward
I'm really off horror movies at the moment.
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16. preposition from: used to show the initiator or source of an action
(
nonstandard
)
I got these sunglasses off my sister for my birthday.
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17. adverb not in operation: not functioning or in use
Shall I switch the engine off?
Make sure the lights are off before you leave.
the off switch
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18. adverb canceled: so as to be no longer taking place
The deal's off.
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19. adjective no longer fresh: smelling and tasting bad because of being no longer fresh
We had to throw the fish away - it was going off.
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20. adjective in particular condition: in a particular condition with regard to something
How are you off for cash?
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21. adjective not correct: in error or out of alignment
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22. adjective on the right of: situated on the right side of a vehicle, farthest away from the curb
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23. adjective unacceptable: not up to normal or acceptable standards
(
informal
)
He was off his game today.
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24. noun cricket part of cricket field: the side of the cricket field facing the batsman taking strike
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| [ Old English. Originally an emphatic variant of of] |
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off and on occasionally
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