Phrase guide

put off

adj · verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

offended, repulsed

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The guest was quite put off by an odor.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

daunted or fazed

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • All but the most dedicated were put off by the huge task.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To postpone, especially through procrastination.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Don't put off your homework to the last minute.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shelve, mothball

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To delay (a task, event, etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The storm put off the game by a week.
  • The storm put the game off by a week.
  • I'm too busy to see Mr Smith today. I'll have to put him off.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To distract; to disturb the concentration of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Please be quiet. I'm trying to concentrate and you're putting me off.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To cause to dislike; to discourage (from doing).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Almost drowning put him off swimming.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To emit; to give off (an odor, smoke, etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • This type of firewood puts off a strong smell.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To take off (something worn).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

Examples

  • to put off a mask

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He dodged the issue
  • she skirted the problem
  • They tend to evade their responsibilities
  • he evaded the questions skillfully

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hedge, fudge, evade, circumvent, parry, elude, skirt, dodge, duck, sidestep

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: avoid

Narrower terms: beg, quibble

10

verb

Meaning 10

cause to feel embarrassment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The constant attention of the young man confused her

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: confuse, flurry, disconcert

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: embarrass, abash

Narrower terms: fluster, bother, distract, deflect

11

verb

Meaning 11

cause to feel intense dislike or distaste

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: turn off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: repel, repulse

12

verb

Meaning 12

take away the enthusiasm of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dishearten

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: discourage

13

verb

Meaning 13

hold back to a later time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • let's postpone the exam

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table, shelve, set back, defer, remit

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: delay

Narrower terms: call, hold, suspend, probate, reprieve, respite

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

56 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: yubatmaq — to delay
  • Bulgarian: отлагам (otlagam) — to delay
  • Chinese Mandarin: 推遲 /推迟 (tuīchí) — to delay
  • Chinese Mandarin: 順延 /顺延 (shùnyán) — to delay
  • Chinese Mandarin: 延期 (yánqī) — to delay
  • Finnish: lykätä — to delay
  • French: ajourner — to delay
  • Georgian: გადადებს (gadadebs) — to delay
  • German: hinausschieben — to delay
  • German: hinauszögern — to delay
  • German: verschieben — to delay
  • German: verzögern — to delay
  • German: zurückstellen — to delay
  • Greek: αναβάλλω (anavállo) — to delay
  • Hungarian: halaszt — to delay
  • Hungarian: elhalaszt — to delay
  • Hungarian: elodáz — to delay
  • Hungarian: elnapol — to delay
  • Icelandic: draga á langinn (see langur) — to delay
  • Ido: tardigar — to delay
  • Japanese: 延期する (enki suru) — to delay
  • Khmer: បង្ខន (bɑɑngkhɑɑn) — to delay
  • Māori: whakahoro — to delay
  • Māori: pāuhu — to delay
  • Norwegian Bokmål: utsette — to delay
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: utsetje — to delay
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: utsette — to delay
  • Persian: به تعویق انداختن — to delay
  • Polish: przekładać — to delay
  • Polish: przełożyć — to delay
  • Polish: odkładać — to delay
  • Polish: odłożyć — to delay
  • Portuguese: adiar — to delay
  • Romanian: amâna — to delay
  • Russian: откла́дывать (otkládyvatʹ) — to delay
  • Russian: отложи́ть (otložítʹ) — to delay
  • Spanish: perecear — to delay
  • Swedish: dra i långbänk — to delay
  • Swedish: dra på — to delay
  • Swedish: skjuta upp — to delay
  • Thai: เลื่อน (lʉ̂ʉan) — to delay
  • Ottoman Turkish: صالمق (salmak) — to delay
  • Ukrainian: відклада́ти (vidkladáty) — to delay
  • Ukrainian: відкла́сти (vidklásty) — to delay
  • Ukrainian: відстро́чувати (vidstróčuvaty) — to delay
  • Ukrainian: відстро́чити (vidstróčyty) — to delay
  • French: rebuter — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • German: abschrecken — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • German: entmutigen — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • German: verprellen — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • German: die Lust nehmen — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • Hungarian: taszít — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • Hungarian: elveszi a kedvét (tőle) — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • Polish: odrzucać — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • Polish: odrzucić — to cause to dislike; to discourage
  • Russian: отталкивать (ottalkivatʹ) — to cause to dislike; to discourage