OFF
adverb
Definitions
- 1. In a general sense, denoting from or away from; as:
- 2. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off.
- 3. Denoting the action of removing or separating; separation; as, to take off the hat or cloak; to cut off, to pare off, to clip off, to peel off, to tear off, to march off, to fly off, and the like.
- 4. Denoting a leaving, abandonment, departure, abatement, interruption, or remission; as, the fever goes off; the pain goes off; the game is off; all bets are off.
- 5. Denoting a different direction; not on or towards: away; as, to look off.
- 6. Denoting opposition or negation. [Obs.] The questions no way touch upon puritanism, either off or on. Bp. Sanderson. From off, off from; off. "A live coal...taken with the tongs from off the altar." Is. vi. 6. -- Off and on. (a) Not constantly; not regularly; now and then; occasionally. (b) (Naut.) On different tacks, now toward, and now away from, the land. -- To be off. (a) To depart; to escape; as, he was off without a moment's warning. (b) To be abandoned, as an agreement or purpose; as, the bet was declared to be off. [Colloq.] -- To come off, To cut off, To fall off, To go off, etc. See under Come, Cut, Fall, Go, etc. -- To get off. (a) To utter; to discharge; as, to get off a joke.
- 7. To go away; to escape; as, to get off easily from a trial. [Colloq.] -- To take off, to mimic or personate. -- To tell off (Mil.), to divide and practice a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises. Farrow. -- To be well off, to be in good condition. -- To be ill off, To be badly off, to be in poor condition.
Other Definitions
This word also has 4 other definitions:
OFF
(adjective)
1. On the farther side; most distant; on the side of an animal or a team farthest from the driver when he is on foot; in the United States, the right ...
OFF
(interjection)
Away; begone; -- a command to depart.
OFF
(noun)
The side of the field that is on the right of the wicket keeper.
OFF
(preposition)
Not on; away from; as, to be off one's legs or off the bed; two miles off the shore. Addison. Off hand. See Offhand. -- Off side (Football), out of p...
Added: October 09, 2025
Updated: October 09, 2025