Phrasal verbs can change meaning depending on the words they’re paired with, and put off is a great example. It’s commonly used in everyday English and has a few different uses based on the situation. Whether you’re delaying a task, losing interest in something, or reacting to a bad experience, put off helps you express that clearly.
In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of put off, how it works in real sentences, and how to tell which meaning fits the context.
What Does “Put Off” Mean in English?
The phrasal verb put off has multiple meanings in English, and its exact sense depends on the context. At its core, it involves delaying something, feeling discouraged, or experiencing a sense of dislike.
It’s a flexible expression used both in casual speech and informal writing. You’ll often hear people say they “put off” doing something or that something “put them off” entirely. In each case, the meaning shifts based on how the phrase is used with other words in the sentence.
Common Meanings of “Put Off” with Examples
1. To postpone or delay something
Meaning: To move something to a later time or date.
Examples:
- They decided to put off the hiking trip until next weekend because of the rain.
- I keep putting off my dentist appointment—I just can’t stand going.
- The company put off launching the product until the new campaign was ready.
2. To discourage or dissuade someone
Meaning: To make someone feel less interested or unwilling to do something.
Examples:
- Her constant complaining really put me off working with her again.
- He was excited about joining the team, but the strict rules put him off.
- Don’t let one failure put you off chasing your goals.
3. To repel or cause dislike
Meaning: To make someone feel disgusted, uncomfortable, or unwilling, often due to behavior, smell, or tone.
Examples:
- The attitude of the customer service rep completely put me off the brand.
- That overly sweet perfume put her off before the date even started.
- The spoiled milk smell in the fridge put us off eating at home.
How to Use “Put Off” in Sentences
To use the phrasal verb put off correctly, it’s important to understand its grammar and how it behaves in a sentence. Here’s what you need to know:
1. It’s a transitive phrasal verb
As a transitive phrasal verb, put off always needs an object—someone or something that the action is directed at. You can’t use it alone without completing the thought.
✔ She put off the exam until next week.
✔ The smell of paint put me off dinner.
❌ He put off. (This is incomplete; what did he put off?)
2. It’s separable
Because put off is a separable phrasal verb, you can place the object between the verb and the particle (off), especially when the object is a noun. But if the object is a pronoun, it must go in the middle.
✔ They put off the wedding.
✔ They put the wedding off.
✔ They put it off.
❌ They put off it.
3. Watch for context clues
Since put off has more than one meaning, always look at the situation to figure out which meaning fits best.
Compare:
- “She put off the trip until July.” (postpone)
- “His attitude put her off completely.” (discouraged/disliked)
Using put off correctly depends on recognizing the context and pairing it with the right object.
Related Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
The verb put forms many other useful phrasal verbs in English. Learning them alongside put off can help you expand your vocabulary and understand more nuanced expressions.
Put on
Meaning: To dress in clothing, or to present something.
Example: She put on her jacket before heading out.
Put up with
Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
Example: I don’t know how he puts up with the constant noise at work.
Put out
Meaning: To extinguish something, or cause inconvenience.
Example: They put out the fire before the fire truck arrived.
Put through
Meaning: To connect someone by phone or cause someone to experience something difficult.
Example: The operator put me through to the manager.
Example: She’s been put through a lot this year.
Each of these phrasal verbs has a different meaning, even though they start with the same base verb. Paying attention to the second word—the particle—makes all the difference.
Synonyms of “Put Off” (Based on Meaning)
Since put off has more than one meaning, the synonyms vary depending on how it’s used in a sentence. Below are some useful alternatives grouped by meaning:
1. When “put off” means to delay or postpone
- Delay
- Postpone
- Defer
- Reschedule
- Hold off
Example:
Instead of saying “She put off the meeting,” you could say:
“She postponed the meeting” or “She rescheduled the meeting.”
2. When “put off” means to discourage or dissuade
- Discourage
- Deter
- Turn off (informal)
- Dissuade
- Dampen enthusiasm
Example:
“His reaction put me off applying again” could also be expressed as:
“His reaction discouraged me from applying again.”
3. When “put off” means to repel or cause dislike
- Repel
- Disgust
- Offend
- Turn off (again, informal)
- Alienate
Example:
“The rude service put us off the restaurant” might be rephrased as:
“The rude service repelled us from the restaurant.”
Example Sentences with “Put Off” Phrasal Verb
- We had to put off the presentation due to a power outage.
- She always puts off packing until the night before her trip.
- They’ve decided to put the renovation off until they finalize the design.
- I put it off so many times that I missed the deadline.
- The complicated application process put me off applying altogether.
- Don’t let one rejection put you off trying again.
- His tone during the interview really put off the new candidate.
- The poor reviews put off several potential buyers.
- The smell of burnt food put us off eating in the kitchen.
- I was put off by how dismissive he was during the conversation.
- Her harsh tone put off everyone in the room.
- That overly flashy website design really put me off the brand.