see off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, informal.
Quick answer
What does “see off” mean?
To accompany someone to the point of departure (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To accompany someone to the point of departure (e.g., airport, station) and say goodbye as they leave.
To successfully defeat or drive away an opponent or challenge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both senses are used in both varieties. The 'defeat' sense is slightly more frequent in British sports journalism. The physical act of seeing someone off at an airport/train station is universally understood.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties for the farewell sense. In the defeat sense, it can carry a slightly triumphant or dismissive connotation.
Frequency
More frequent in British English in both senses, but common in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “see off” in a Sentence
[Subject] + see off + [Object (person/team/challenge)][Subject] + see + [Object (person)] + offVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “see off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We all went to Heathrow to see her off.
- The home side saw off their rivals with a 2-0 victory.
- He saw the door-to-door salesman off quickly.
American English
- We'll see you off at JFK airport.
- The company saw off a hostile takeover bid.
- She saw the persistent reporter off her property.
adverb
British English
- N/A for this phrasal verb.
American English
- N/A for this phrasal verb.
adjective
British English
- N/A for this phrasal verb.
American English
- N/A for this phrasal verb.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The sales team saw off strong competition to win the contract."
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing.
Everyday
"I'll see you off at the train station tomorrow."
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “see off”
- Using 'see off' for simply watching someone leave a room (use 'see [someone] leave/out').
- Incorrect word order: 'We saw off him' (less common than 'We saw him off').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but primarily in its 'defeat' sense (e.g., 'see off a challenge'). For the farewell sense, it's almost exclusively for people (or sometimes vehicles carrying people).
'See off' focuses on the act of being present and saying goodbye. 'Send off' can mean the same but often implies more active organization of the departure (e.g., arranging a party). 'Send off' also has the specific meaning in sports (to be shown a red card).
It is neutral to informal. In very formal writing (e.g., official reports), alternatives like 'bid farewell to' or 'accompany to the departure point' might be preferred.
Typically, yes. It implies movement to the specific point of departure (gate, platform, door). It is not used for waving from a window or saying goodbye on a phone call.
To accompany someone to the point of departure (e.
See off: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsiː ˈɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsi ˈɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine you are at the airport SECURITY (SEE) gate, waving as your friend walks OFF towards their plane.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEPARTURE IS A JOURNEY AWAY FROM A CENTER; COMPETITION/THREAT IS AN OPPONENT TO BE DRIVEN AWAY.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'see off' used INCORRECTLY?