ENGLISH
REFERENCE

off

adv. · prep. · adj. · v.
US //ˈɔf// UK //ˈɒf// off
  1. 1 away from a place (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    moving away from a person or a place.

    indicating movement in a direction away from a reference point or speaker.

    Example

    The thief ran off before the police could arrive at the shop.

    Example

    The hikers set off at dawn, hoping to reach the summit before the afternoon heat became unbearable.
  2. 2 stopping a machine (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    into a state where a machine or light is no longer working.

    indicating the cessation of operation or the disconnection of an electrical circuit.

    Example

    Please turn the lights off when you leave the classroom.

    Example

    The safety mechanism automatically switches the power off if the internal temperature exceeds a specific threshold.
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  1. 3 not on something (prep.)
    A1 Beginner

    away from a surface or position.

    indicating a position away from or no longer in contact with a surface.

    Example

    Keep your feet off the sofa while you are wearing shoes.

    Example

    The cat jumped off the fence and disappeared into the thick bushes behind the garden shed.
  2. 4 near a place (prep.)
    B1 Intermediate

    near to a place, especially out at sea near the coast.

    indicating proximity to a location, typically used for ships or islands relative to a coastline.

    Example

    The ship sank just off the coast of Ireland during the storm.

    Example

    The small island lies just off the mainland, accessible only by a private ferry that runs twice daily.
  3. 5 not working or cancelled (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    not operating, or describing an event that will not happen.

    describing a state of non-operation or the cancellation of a previously scheduled event.

    Example

    The wedding is off because the couple decided to wait another year.

    Example

    The heating has been off all morning, leaving the office uncomfortably cold for the staff.
  4. 6 spoiled food (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate British English

    food that is no longer fresh or safe to eat.

    describing food or drink that has begun to decay or has become sour.

    Example

    Don't drink that milk; I think it smells a bit off.

    Example

    The chef insisted on discarding the cream, noting that it had gone off due to the refrigeration failure overnight.
  5. 7 away from work (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not at work or school, usually because of a holiday or being sick.

    absent from one's place of employment or duty.

    Example

    She is off today with a bad cold, so she won't answer her emails.

    Example

    Most of the senior staff are off on annual leave this week, so the decision will have to wait until Monday.
  6. 8 unfriendly or rude (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    behaving in a way that is slightly rude or not as friendly as usual.

    describing behaviour that is socially inappropriate, unfriendly, or below a standard of expected politeness.

    Example

    He was a bit off with me this morning, and I don't know why.

    Example

    Her tone during the meeting was somewhat off, suggesting a level of frustration she was trying to hide from the clients.
  7. 9 to kill (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a slang word meaning to kill someone.

    to murder or assassinate someone. Transitive use.

    Example

    In the movie, the gang leader decided to off his rival.

    Example

    The plot of the thriller revolves around a professional hitman hired to off a high-ranking government official.
  8. 10 removed (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    so that something is no longer attached or worn.

    indicating the removal of clothing or the separation of a part from a whole.

    Example

    He took his coat off as soon as he entered the warm house.

    Example

    The label had been torn off the bottle, making it impossible to identify the contents without a chemical test.

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