# see off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/see-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to go to a place like an airport or station to say goodbye to someone who is leaving. You do this to show you care before they start their journey.

For teachers: to accompany a departing person to their point of exit to bid them farewell. The verb is transitive and frequently used in travel contexts.

## Examples

- My parents came to the airport to see me off.
- We all went down to the train station to see off our friend who was moving to London for a new job.
- The entire village gathered at the harbor to see off the fishing fleet, a tradition that had remained unchanged for centuries.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I went to the airport to see off her." but "I went to the airport to see her off." — If the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- The person leaving usually sits between 'see' and 'off', especially if you use a pronoun like 'him' or 'them'.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'drop off', which focuses on the transport, whereas 'see off' focuses on the social act of saying goodbye.

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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.