put off

Short definition: The phrase put off means to postpone or delay something until a later time, or to discourage someone by causing lack of interest or discomfort.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrasal verb put off? This is a very common expression in English and it usually carries a practical or emotional meaning depending on context. It can describe delaying something, losing interest, or even making someone feel uncomfortable. Because it has more than one common use, the surrounding words matter a lot. Below are detailed meanings with realistic examples so you can clearly understand how put off works in daily English.

put off v. /ˌpʊt ˈɒf/

Forms: put off, puts off, put off, putting off
Related: postpone v., delay v., discourage v., distract v.
Syllable: put-off

  1. (Verb) To delay or postpone something.

    To put off something most commonly means to delay it until a later time. It often suggests postponing a task, appointment, or responsibility. This meaning is very common in both formal and informal English.

    She decided to put off the meeting until next week.
    I keep putting off cleaning my room because I’m too tired.
    Don’t put off important decisions for too long.

    Synonyms: postpone, delay, reschedule, defer, push back, hold over, adjourn, suspend temporarily, stall, procrastinate on, shift to later, move back
    Antonyms: proceed, do immediately, advance, bring forward, schedule earlier, carry out, complete now, act promptly, start right away, continue without delay, execute, finalize

  2. (Verb) To make someone lose interest or feel discouraged.

    Put off can also mean causing someone to lose interest or feel discouraged about something. It often describes a negative reaction that reduces enthusiasm or attraction.

    His rude attitude really put me off the idea of working with him.
    The bad smell completely put her off her meal.
    Don’t let small setbacks put you off your goals.

    Synonyms: discourage, repel, deter, turn away, dissuade, upset, irritate, make uncomfortable, cause dislike, reduce interest, disgust, dampen enthusiasm
    Antonyms: attract, encourage, inspire, motivate, interest, please, impress, excite, draw in, appeal to, stimulate, engage

  3. (Verb) To distract someone from what they are doing.

    In some contexts, put off can mean distracting someone so they lose focus on their task. This usage is less common but still appears in spoken English.

    The noise outside put him off while he was studying.
    Please don’t put me off—I’m trying to concentrate.
    She was easily put off by interruptions during her presentation.

    Synonyms: distract, disturb, interrupt, divert attention, break concentration, sidetrack, unsettle focus, disrupt, throw off balance, bother, cause distraction, shift attention away
    Antonyms: focus, concentrate, stay attentive, maintain attention, stay engaged, remain steady, ignore distractions, stay centered, keep focus, concentrate fully, stay absorbed, remain attentive

Conversation Using the Phrasal Verb Put off

Discussing a delayed appointment, Thomas and Mia talk about procrastination. This dialogue explores put off, which means to delay doing something until a later time, or to make someone not like something.

Thomas: I’ve been meaning to go to the dentist for weeks, but I keep trying to put off the appointment because I’m a bit nervous about it.

Mia: You shouldn't put off medical checkups; if you wait too long, a small problem could eventually turn into a much more serious and painful one.

Thomas: I read that the bad smell from the local factory has managed to put off many potential homebuyers from looking at properties in this neighborhood.

Mia: I noticed that the management decided to put off the meeting until next Tuesday because the director is currently out of the country on business.

Thomas: If you put off your homework until the very last minute, you’ll find yourself feeling incredibly stressed and rushed when the deadline arrives.

Mia: I saw a runner put off her training session until the evening because the midday sun was simply too hot and intense for a long-distance run.

Thomas: It’s common for people to put off difficult conversations, but it’s often better to address the issue directly before it becomes even more complicated.

Mia: I agree; I’m not going to put off my gym session today, even though I’m feeling a little bit tired after a long day at the office.

Thomas: I’m glad I didn't put off calling the technician; he fixed the washing machine in ten minutes and now I can finally finish my laundry today.

Mia: Me too; once we refuse to put off our responsibilities, we can enjoy our free time without any feelings of guilt or anxiety about our work.

Phrases Containing the Phrasal Verb Put Off

The phrases below show how the phrasal verb put off is used to talk about postponing, delaying, or discouraging someone from doing something.

Put off a meeting

To postpone an appointment.

We had to put off the meeting until next week because several key members were unavailable.

Put off making a decision

To delay choosing something.

He kept putting off making a decision, hoping the situation would resolve itself.

Put off doing homework

To delay starting a task.

Many students put off doing homework until the last minute and then feel stressed.

Put off a trip

To postpone travel plans.

They decided to put off their trip due to unexpected weather conditions.

Put off an event

To reschedule an occasion.

The organizers put off the event to ensure better attendance.

Put off a deadline

To extend the due date.

The manager agreed to put off the deadline after hearing the team’s concerns.

Put off a task

To delay work.

It’s easy to put off a task that feels overwhelming or complicated.

Put off customers

To discourage buyers.

Rude service can quickly put off customers and damage a company’s reputation.

Put off the discussion

To delay talking about something.

They put off the discussion until everyone had more information.

Put off the decision

To postpone choosing.

The board put off the decision until further analysis was completed.

Put off studying

To delay preparing for exams.

If you keep putting off studying, you may struggle when the exam arrives.

Put off repairs

To delay fixing something.

Ignoring maintenance and putting off repairs can lead to bigger problems later.

Put off an appointment

To reschedule a booking.

She had to put off her doctor’s appointment due to a scheduling conflict.

Put off an interview

To delay a job interview.

The company put off the interview until the hiring manager returned.

Put off someone’s plans

To disrupt arrangements.

The sudden storm put off everyone’s plans for the outdoor concert.

Put off an answer

To delay responding.

He put off giving an answer because he needed more time to think.

Put off an exam

To postpone a test.

The university put off the exam due to unforeseen circumstances.

Put off the project

To delay starting or continuing work.

They put off the project until funding was secured.

Put off responsibility

To avoid dealing with duties.

You shouldn’t put off responsibility when others are relying on you.

Put off action

To delay taking steps.

Putting off action during a crisis can make the situation worse.

Words Rhyme with put off

foot the scoff
soot off
input off
output off
foot off
soot off
input off
output off
foot the cough
soot the doff
off
scoff
doff
cough
trough
soft
aloft
loft
croft
layoff
playoff
show-off
take-off
kick-off
spin-off
send-off
rip-off
cutoff
hoff
prof
POS: Verb Phrase