Off Word Meaning

Old English, originally a variant of of (which combined the senses of ‘of’ and ‘off’)

away from the place in question; to or at a distance

away from place in question

• the man ran off
• she dashed off to her room
• we must be off now

so as to be removed or separated

so as to be removed or separated

• he whipped off his coat
• a section of the runway had been cordoned off

starting a journey or race; leaving

starting journey or race

• we're off on holiday tomorrow
• the gunmen made off on foot
• they're off!

so as to bring to an end or be discontinued

so as to bring to end

• the Christmas party rounded off a hugely successful year
• she broke off her reading to look at her husband

(of an electrical appliance or power supply) not functioning or so as to cease to function

(of electrical appliance or supply) not functioning

• switch the TV off
• the electricity was off for four days

having access to or possession of material goods or wealth to the extent specified

having goods or wealth to extent specified

• we'd been rather badly off for books
• how are you off for money?

(with preceding numeral) denoting a quantity produced at one time.

(with numeral) denoting quantity produced at one time

moving away and often down from

moving away and often down from

• he rolled off the bed
• the coat slipped off his arms
• trying to get us off the stage

situated or leading in a direction away from (a main route or intersection)

situated or leading away

• single wires leading off the main lines
• in a little street off Whitehall

so as to be removed or separated from

so as to be separated from

• threatening to tear the door off its hinges
• they knocked $2,000 off the price
• it's a huge burden off my shoulders

having a temporary dislike of

having temporary dislike of

• he's running a temperature and he's off his food

characterized by performing or feeling worse than usual; unsatisfactory or inadequate

performing or feeling worse than usual

• even the greatest athletes have off days

(of food) no longer fresh

(of food) no longer fresh

• the fish was a bit off

located on the side of a vehicle that is normally furthest from the kerb; offside.

located on side of vehicle furthest from kerb

annoying or unfair

annoying or unfair

• His boss deducted the money from his pay. That was a bit off

unfriendly or hostile

unfriendly

• there's no one there except the barmaid, and she's a bit off

the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) towards which the batter's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball.

half of field towards which batter's feet are pointed

the start of a race, journey, or experience

departure or start of race

• now Ian is ready for the off

leave

leave

• supposedly loyal workers suddenly upped and offed to the new firms

kill; murder

kill

• I finally snapped and offed the guy