Definition

1. Adverb:

   • No longer attached, connected, or in contact: Indicates separation or removal from a surface or position.
   • At a distance in space or time: Indicates a position away from a point of reference or a future point in time.
   • Away from a place or position: Indicates movement away from a starting point.
   • So as to be no longer functioning or operating: Indicates a state of being deactivated.

2. Preposition:

   • Away from and often down from: Indicates movement or position away from a surface, place, or thing.
   • At a distance from: Indicates a location that is not on or adjacent to a main area.

3. Adjective:

   • Not in operation or functioning: Describes a device or system that is not active.
   • No longer planned or taking place: Describes a cancelled or postponed event.
   • Below the usual or expected standard: Describes a subpar performance or condition.
   • Slightly unwell: Describes a state of mild illness.
   • Not fresh; spoiled: Describes food that is no longer good to eat.
   • Free from work or duty: Describes a period when one is not required to work.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • She took the lid off the jar. (She removed the lid from the jar.)
  • The ship was five miles off the coast. (The ship was at a distance of five miles from the coast.)
  • He drove off without saying goodbye. (He drove away from the place.)
  • Please turn the lights off. (Please deactivate the lights.)

• Preposition:

  • The book fell off the table. (The book moved away from the surface of the table.)
  • We ate at a restaurant just off the main road. (We ate at a restaurant located near but not on the main road.)

• Adjective:

  • The computer is off. (The computer is not powered on.)
  • The meeting is off. (The meeting has been cancelled.)
  • His tennis game was a bit off today. (His tennis performance was below his usual standard today.)
  • I'm feeling a little off. (I am feeling slightly unwell.)
  • This milk smells off. (This milk smells spoiled.)
  • Tomorrow is my off day. (Tomorrow is a day when I am not working.)

Advanced Usage

• "Off and on" (or "on and off"): Intermittently; not continuously.

  • It rained off and on all afternoon. (It rained intermittently all afternoon.)

• "Off the top of one's head": Without careful thought or preparation; from memory.

  • I can't quote the exact figure off the top of my head. (I cannot recall the exact figure immediately from memory.)

• "Off the record": Not for publication or official attribution; unofficial.

  • The senator's comments were made off the record. (The senator's comments were not intended to be officially recorded or quoted.)

Variants and Related Words

• Off-putting (adj): Unpleasant or disconcerting; causing dislike or wariness.

  • His manner was rather off-putting. (His manner was somewhat unpleasant.)

• Off-color (adj, chiefly US; off-colour in UK): Slightly indecent or risqué; also, slightly unwell.

  • He told an off-color joke. (He told a slightly indecent joke.)
  • She's been feeling off-color all week. (She has been feeling slightly unwell all week.)

• Offhand (adj/adv): Without preparation or previous thought; casual.

  • I can't give an offhand answer. (I cannot give an immediate, unprepared answer.)

Synonyms

• Away: At a distance from a place.
• Removed: Taken away.
• Inactive: Not active or in operation.
• Cancelled: No longer planned to happen.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Call off: To cancel something.

  • They had to call off the picnic due to rain. (They had to cancel the picnic because of the rain.)

• Put off: To postpone; also, to cause someone to feel dislike or reluctance.

  • We put off the meeting until next week. (We postponed the meeting until next week.)
  • His arrogance put me off. (His arrogance caused me to dislike him.)

• Show off: To display boastfully.

  • He likes to show off his new car. (He likes to display his new car in a boastful way.)

Related Idioms

• Off the hook: No longer in trouble or responsible for something.

  • The new evidence let the suspect off the hook. (The new evidence freed the suspect from blame.)

• Off the wall: Unconventional, unusual, or eccentric.

  • He has some off-the-wall ideas about education. (He has some very unconventional ideas about education.)

• Off the beaten track/path: In a remote or little-visited place.

  • The cabin is off the beaten track, far from any town. (The cabin is in a remote location.)

Verb

1. kill intentionally and with premeditation
   • The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered

Adverb

1. no longer on or in contact or attached
   • clean off the dirt
   • he shaved off his mustache
2. at a distance in space or time
   • the boat was 5 miles off (or away)
   • the party is still 2 weeks off (or away)
   • away back in the 18th century
3. from a particular thing or place or position (`forth' is obsolete)
   • ran away from the lion
   • wanted to get away from there
   • sent the children away to boarding school
   • the teacher waved the children away from the dead animal
   • went off to school
   • they drove off
   • go forth and preach

Adjective

1. not performing or scheduled for duties
   • He's off every Tuesday
2. in an unpalatable state
   • sour milk
3. (of events) no longer planned or scheduled
   • the wedding is definitely off
4. below a satisfactory level
   • an off year for tennis
   • his performance was off
5. not in operation or operational
   • the oven is off
   • the lights are off