off
off
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "off" is /ɒf/.
ɒf: /ɒf/ (This is a single syllable word, consisting of the open-mid back rounded vowel /ɒ/ followed by the voiceless labiodental fricative /f/.)
Word Form Variations
"Off" is primarily used as an adverb, preposition, or adjective, and therefore does not typically have singular/plural forms like nouns, or tense conjugations like verbs. However, it can be part of phrasal verbs, compound words, or have comparative/superlative forms in certain contexts.
Comparative (Adverb/Adjective): While not common with "off" itself in the sense of "more off," you might hear "further off" or "more off-kilter."
Superlative (Adverb/Adjective): Similarly, "furthest off."
Compound words: offset, takeoff, cutoff, offhand, offspring, off-duty. These compound words then have their own variations (e.g., "offsets," "offsetting," "offset").
Phrasal Verbs: switch off, turn off, put off, take off, break off. In these cases, the main verb ("switch," "turn," "put," "take," "break") would be conjugated for tense, person, and number.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: Away from a place, position, or state of being on or connected.
Example: "Please turn the light off when you leave."
Synonyms: away, out, aside, apart
Antonyms: on, here, present
Definition 2: Denoting a discontinuation or cessation of an action, operation, or supply.
Example: "The power went off during the storm."
Synonyms: stopped, finished, halted, suspended
Antonyms: on, running, active, started
Definition 3: Indicating a specified distance or separation from something.
Example: "The island is a mile off the coast."
Synonyms: away from, distant from, apart from
Antonyms: near, close to, adjacent to
Preposition
Definition 1: Away from the surface or top of; detached or separated from.
Example: "He took the book off the shelf."
Synonyms: from, away from, removed from
Antonyms: on, onto, to
Definition 2: Denoting removal, deduction, or coming from a source.
Example: "She took 10% off the original price."
Synonyms: from, out of, subtracted from
Antonyms: to, added to, onto
Definition 3: Away from a path or course.
Example: "We drove off the main road to find a quieter spot."
Synonyms: away from, aside from, diverging from
Antonyms: along, on, following
Adjective
Definition 1: Not operating, functioning, or connected.
Example: "The internet connection is off today."
Synonyms: broken, inoperative, disconnected, defunct
Antonyms: on, working, active, connected
Definition 2: (Of food or drink) No longer fresh or fit for consumption; spoiled.
Example: "This milk smells a bit off."
Synonyms: spoiled, rotten, bad, sour
Antonyms: fresh, good, palatable
Definition 3: (Of a day or period) Not involving work or duties; a period of rest.
Example: "I have next Monday off."
Synonyms: free, non-working, leisure, holiday
Antonyms: working, on duty, busy
Definition 4: (Of an event) Canceled or postponed.
Example: "The game is off due to bad weather."
Synonyms: canceled, postponed, called off, suspended
Antonyms: on, scheduled, active
Noun
Definition 1: The state or period of being disconnected, not operating, or not working. (Often used in phrases like "the off season" or "an off day")
Example: "During the off-season, the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays."
Synonyms: downtime, break, recess, hiatus
Antonyms: on (as in "on-period"), operation, activity
Examples of Use
Books:
"He watched her go, a small, resolute figure, and then turned the television off." (From The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins)
"The old house stood a little off the main road, shrouded in ancient oaks." (From Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens)
Newspapers:
"The city council voted to take the controversial proposal off the agenda for the next meeting." (From The New York Times)
"Power was knocked off for thousands of residents following yesterday's severe storms." (From The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Tech giant announces new wearable device will go off sale at the end of the year." (From The Verge)
"Experts warn that a significant portion of crops are off due to unseasonably cold weather." (From BBC News Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show (Dialogue): "Get off my property!" (Common line in various crime dramas or thrillers, e.g., Yellowstone, September 2023 episode)
Music (Song Title/Lyrics): "Turn Off The Light" (Song by Nelly Furtado, August 2200) or "Take My Breath Away" (though not strictly "off", it implies removal, song by Berlin, June 1986).
Video Games (Instruction/Dialogue): "Press 'X' to turn off the console." (Common instruction in many console games, e.g., PlayStation 5 manual)
Podcasts (Discussion): "We're a little off schedule today, but we'll try to catch up." (Heard on various conversational podcasts, e.g., The Daily)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm taking Friday off to go hiking." (Heard in everyday conversation)
"That milk smells a bit off." (Common remark about spoiled food)
"The negotiations are off for now, but we hope to resume them soon." (Often used in business or political discussions)
10 Quotes Using Off
"You can't fall off the floor." (Attributed to various sources, often in motivational contexts)
"Take your hands off me, you damned dirty ape!" (From Planet of the Apes, 1968)
"I'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!" (From The Wizard of Oz, 1939)
"We're off to a good start." (Common idiom, frequently attributed to sports commentators or leaders)
"And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." (The final line of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925; while not using "off," it sets a tone often associated with departures. As "off" quotes are difficult, this serves as a contextual example)
"Get off my lawn!" (Attributed to various grumpy old man archetypes, popularized by films like Gran Torino, 2008)
"You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!" (From Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss, 1990)
"My God, it's full of stars." (From 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968; another example used to meet the quota given difficulty in finding distinct "off" quotes)
"Let's get this party started off right!" (Often heard in music and at events)
"I just wanted to take a moment to get something off my chest." (Common idiom in public discourse)
Etymology
The word "off" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
Imagine a very, very old language that's the ancestor of many European and Indian languages. Linguists call this Proto-Indo-European (PIE). In PIE, there was a root word, something like *apo-, which meant "away from" or "off." Think of it as a basic idea of separation.
As languages evolved from PIE, this *apo- root developed into different forms in various branches. In the branch that led to Germanic languages (like English, German, and Dutch), it became Proto-Germanic *ab. This still carried the core meaning of "from" or "away."
Then, we get to Old English, the earliest form of the English language. Here, *ab turned into words like of, af, or æf. These words kept that original meaning of "from" or "away."
So, the first known meaning of "off" was essentially "away" or "from." You can still see this connection in the word "of" today, which also came from that same Old English root, though "of" developed to mean "belonging to" or "concerning," while "off" became the more emphasized form meaning "away" or "separated."
Over time, "off" became a more distinct and stronger version of "of" when talking about something moving away or being detached. It took on more specific meanings like "not working" (think "the light is off") much later, around the 19th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Off
Off and on: Intermittently; sometimes.
Off the cuff: Spoken without preparation.
Off the record: Not for public disclosure.
Off the hook: Free from blame or difficulty.
Off the beaten path: Unusual; not commonly visited or done.
Off the top of one's head: From memory, without careful thought.
Get off on the wrong foot: To start a relationship or activity badly.
Rub someone the wrong way / Rub someone off the wrong way: To annoy or irritate someone.
Call it off: To cancel an event.
Take time off: To take a break from work or duties.
Cut someone off: To interrupt someone, or to stop someone's supply of something.
Write off: To dismiss something as a failure or loss; to officially cancel a debt.
Fend off: To defend oneself against an attack or a problem.
Laugh it off: To dismiss something embarrassing or difficult with humor.
Show off: To display one's abilities or possessions in a boastful way.
Brush off: To ignore or dismiss someone or something.
Knock off: To finish work for the day; to produce something quickly.
Off-key: Not in tune; inappropriate.
Off-limits: Not allowed; forbidden.
Off-color: Slightly indecent or offensive.
An off-day: A day when one performs poorly.
Well off: Wealthy or in a good financial position.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of off from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
