The Britannica Dictionary

off

368 ENTRIES FOUND:

¹ off /ˈɑːf/ adverb

¹ off

/ˈɑːf/

adverb

Britannica Dictionary definition of OFF

a : away from a place

The dog ran off.
The car sped off.
She put on her jacket and off she went.
We get off at the next bus stop. [=we exit the bus at the next stop]

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b : away from a main road, path, etc.

The car turned off onto a side street.

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: at a distance in time or space

Football season is not far off. [=football season will start soon]
The completion of the new office building is still a long way off. [=it will be a long time before the new office building is finished]

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— used to describe something that moves or is moved so that it is no longer on something or attached to something

She set the ball on the table and it rolled off.
His hat fell off.
He twisted off the cap.
The handle on the pan broke off.
She took off her coat.

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: into sleep

I dozed off in the chair.
He closed his eyes and drifted off (to sleep).

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a — used to describe stopping something

Shut off the water.
Shut off the engine.
Turn the TV off.

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b — used to describe getting something into a desired condition especially by removing something

I need to smooth off the corners of the bookshelf.
I dusted off the shelves.
She wiped the counter off.

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c — used to describe finishing something

We paid off all our debts.
Can you finish off the pizza? There are only two slices left.

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: away from regular work

I took the day off (from work).
At noon, workers take time off for lunch.
I have weekends off. [=I do not go to work on the weekends]

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off and on

or on and off

: starting, stopping, and starting again : not constant or steady over a period of time

It rained off and on all day.
The fighting continued off and on throughout the years.
She worked here on and off for several years.
They've had an on-and-off relationship.

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² off /ˈɑːf/ preposition

² off

/ˈɑːf/

preposition

Britannica Dictionary definition of OFF

— used to indicate separation, distance, or removal from someone or something

She cut a slice off the loaf.
The ball bounced off the wall.
She stepped off the train and looked around.
There are many paths off the main trail around the mountain.
There is a bathroom off the kitchen.
The shop is just off the main street.
He had his wallet stolen off him.
Keep off the grass.
Get your feet off the table.
The boat was two miles off the coast.
The discussion got/moved off the original subject.
My favorite dish has been taken off the menu.
I'll take your name off the list.
She wore the gown off the shoulder.

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: on money, food, energy, etc., supplied by (someone or something)

She is still living off her parents.
The family lives off welfare.
They live off the land.
They make their living off tourism.
The machine runs off [=on] diesel fuel.

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— used to indicate something that someone is no longer doing or using

She has recently gone off smoking.
He is off his diet.
The officers were off duty.
I took a day off work.
He has been off liquor for three years.

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— used to indicate the object of an action

I borrowed a dollar off [=from] him.
I bought a CD off him. [=he sold a CD to me]

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— used to indicate the source or cause of something

He spent all the money he made off [=from] gambling.

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: below the usual standard or level of (something)

(chiefly US) He is off his game. [=he is not playing as well as he usually does]
The DVDs are being offered at 15 percent off the regular price.
I asked him to knock $100 off the price.

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off of

chiefly US, informal

: off

She fell off of the swing.
farmers who live off of the land
He is off of his diet.
We ate off of paper plates.
15 percent off of the regular price

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³ off /ˈɑːf/ adjective

³ off

/ˈɑːf/

adjective

Britannica Dictionary definition of OFF

not used before a noun : not attached to or covering something : not on

The lid is off.

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a not used before a noun : not operating, functioning, or flowing

The radio is off.
The electricity/water is off.

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b : in a position that stops the flow of electricity, water, etc.

The switch is off.
The lever is in the off position.

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: away from home or work

He is off playing golf.
She is off on a trip/vacation.
He's off today.
They enjoy hiking and biking on their off days. [=the days when they are not working]
She is off [=out] sick today.

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not used before a noun : not happening

The deal/game that was on is now off. [=has been canceled]
In case of a tie, all bets are off.

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not used before a noun, chiefly US : not correct : wrong

I must be off in my calculations.
These numbers are off.
Your guess is way off!

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always used before a noun : very small in degree : slight

There is an off chance that you will win.

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always used before a noun : not as busy or active as other periods of time

an off time of year
We vacation during the off season.

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not used before a noun : not completely sane

The poor fellow is a little off (in the head).

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not used before a noun — used to ask about or describe someone's situation or condition

Are you better or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
The other accident victims are much worse off than she is. [=her injuries are not as bad as theirs]
(chiefly Brit) We're comfortably off.
(chiefly Brit) How are you off for money? [=how are you for money?; do you need money?]