off

The word “off” means away from a place, position, or reference point. In plain terms, away from, disconnected, switched off, cancelled, or (of food) spoiled — a very common, multi-purpose word.

“Off” is pronounced of (/ɔf/ in IPA).

Here is “off” used in a sentence: “She drove off without saying goodbye.”

Words with a similar meaning to “off” include away and out.

The opposite of “off” — its antonyms — are in and on.

Depending on how it is used, “off” can be an adverb, an adjective and a preposition.

The word “off” comes from Old English. From Old English of/æf, meaning "away, off" — a doublet of the word "of", which it split apart from in Middle English.

“Off” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

"Off" means away from a place, position, or reference point, or describes something not switched on ("the light is off"). "Of" is an unstressed preposition showing belonging or connection ("a cup of tea"). They are pronounced differently too — "off" rhymes with "cough," while "of" sounds like "uv."

The "of" in "off of" is redundant, because "off" alone already means away from something: "she jumped off the wall." "Off of" is common in informal American speech, but formal writing prefers plain "off."

They mean different things. "A day off" is a day away from work or your usual duties, while "an off day" is a day when you perform worse than usual or things are not working as they should. Both are standard expressions.

There is no difference in meaning — both describe a device that is not switched on or not working. "Switched off" is more common in British English and "turned off" in American English, but each is understood everywhere.