off — away from a place or position
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: away from a place or position
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɔːf/
Example Sentences
- My boss told me to take the day off, but I'm still answering emails!
- The alarm clock went off at 6 AM, but I pretended to be off duty.
- Please turn off the lights before you leave the office.
off
ADVERB[/ɔːf/]
away from a place or position
She flips the light off and heads to bed with a yawn.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old English 'of', the word originally meant 'away' or 'at a distance'. Over time, its semantic range expanded to include meanings such as 'to turn off' or 'to cancel', reflecting a conceptual shift from spatial separation to cessation or disconnection.
Breakdown
of (away, from) + -f (adverbial suffix) → off. The final 'f' developed as an emphatic or adverbial particle, strengthening the directional sense of 'of' into a more distinct preposition and adverb.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My boss told me to take the day off, but I'm still answering emails!”
“The alarm clock went off at 6 AM, but I pretended to be off duty.”
“Please turn off the lights before you leave the office.”
“The plane will take off in ten minutes.”
“I fell off my bike while trying to look cool in front of my crush.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.