# offload

/ˈɒfləʊd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/offload
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to move people or goods off a vehicle like a plane, ship, or truck. It can also mean to get rid of a problem or responsibility by passing it to someone else.

For teachers: to discharge passengers or cargo from a transport vehicle; to transfer a burden or responsibility to another person or entity. Often used in logistics and technical contexts to describe the physical movement of goods.

## Examples

- The crew began to offload the cargo as soon as the ship docked.
- After the flight landed, the ground crew worked quickly to offload the luggage and load the next set of passengers.
- The airline decided to offload several tons of freight to make room for the increased number of passengers traveling for the holiday weekend.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.