ward off

phrasal-verb
UK: /wɔːd ɒf/
US: /wɔːrd ɔːf/

  1. To prevent someone or something from harming you.

    1. I use bug spray to ward off mosquitoes when I'm outside.
    2. He used his shield to ward off the attacker's blows during the fight.

  2. To avert or turn away something undesirable or threatening.

    1. The scarecrow helps ward off birds from eating the crops.
    2. The company took steps to ward off a potential takeover by its rival.

Synonyms

avert deflect deter prevent repel

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ward off" in English means: To prevent someone or something from harming you., To avert or turn away something undesirable or threatening..

The phonetic transcription of "ward off" is /wɔːd ɒf/ in British English and /wɔːrd ɔːf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ward off": avert, deflect, deter, prevent, repel.

Example usage of "ward off": "I use bug spray to ward off mosquitoes when I'm outside.". More examples on the page.