get off

verb

got off; got off or gotten off; getting off; gets off

intransitive verb

1
: to avoid the most serious consequences of a dangerous situation or punishment
got off with a light sentence
2
: start, leave
got off on the trip early
3
: to leave work with permission or as scheduled
4
: to get high on a drug
5
: to experience orgasm
6
: to experience great pleasure
often used with on

transitive verb

1
: to secure the release of or procure a modified penalty for
his lawyers got him off
2
a
: utter
get off a joke
b
: to write and send
3
: to succeed in doing, making, or delivering
4
: to cause to get off

Examples of get off in a Sentence

told him to get off for home before it got dark breakfast helps you get off to a good start in the morning
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prosper got off to a quick start and never let the Indians in the game as the Eagles took Game 3 and the series from Keller 7-0 on Saturday, May 24, at Dallas Jesuit High School. Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2025 When Snow tried to ask questions, the woman would deflect or try to get off the phone quickly. Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 25 May 2025 But the first baseman got off to an extended slow start in 2025 and was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025 There’s something to be said for getting off to good starts. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 23 May 2025 After the show got off to a soft start, however, the network pulled it off of Super Bowl Sunday (The Floor aired there instead). Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025 While the meeting between the two leaders got off to a cordial start, the tenor of the meeting took a noticeable turn when Trump confronted Ramaphosa with a video that allegedly showed grave treatment of white farmers. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025 After the eight-team finals began with 3-0 and 4-0 wins for France and Portugal against Germany and Albania respectively on Thursday, Group B got off to a more competitive start. Art De Roché, New York Times, 21 May 2025 As social media becomes a hotbed for amateur medical advice and personal anecdotes, posts about getting off the pill and preventing pregnancy through nonhormonal methods rake in thousands of views daily on apps like TikTok. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of get off was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Get off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20off. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

get off

verb
1
: set out sense 2
got off on their camping trip
2
: to escape or help to escape punishment or harm

More from Merriam-Webster on get off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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