off
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
How often you will meet it
Rank 158 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 152,021 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.072% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adverb
- from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete) also: away, forth ran away from the lionwanted to get away from there
- at a distance in space or time also: away the boat was 5 miles off (or away)the party is still 2 weeks off (or away)
- no longer on or in contact or attached clean off the dirthe shaved off his mustache
adjective
- not in operation or operational the oven is offthe lights are off
- below a satisfactory level an off year for tennishis performance was off
- (of events) no longer planned or scheduled also: cancelled the wedding is definitely off
- in an unpalatable state also: sour, turned sour milk
- not performing or scheduled for duties He's off every Tuesday
off in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Probably water off a duck’s back, though.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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The old gentleman jumped off the hob, as if it had suddenly become inconveniently warm.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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He must get the girl and the chaperon off his hands, and be at his business.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Chop off the heads of as many infidels as you will, but leave Englishmen alone, be they dukes or commoners.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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His clothes were torn off piecemeal and scattered in the crowd, people catching the shreds and putting them away as mementos.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1