write off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Accept that something is a loss or beyond repair
Why “off”? Something is delayed, interrupted, reduced, or brought to an end.
“The car was written off.”
“The broken laptop was written off.”
“The bank wrote off the unpaid loan as a loss.”
Don't confuse with
Write off means accept that something is a loss or beyond repair. Write out means write something in full, especially by hand.
Test yourself
“The car was written off.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
write out
A contrast learners often mix up
Write something in full, especially by hand
back off
Same off pattern: stopping
Move away from someone or something, often in retreat; Stop pressuring or interfering with someone; Withdraw from a previous position or commitment
blow off
Same off pattern: stopping
Be removed by force, especially wind; Cancel plans or fail to meet someone deliberately; Release strong feelings, especially anger; Remove dust or particles by blowing air on them
break off
Same off pattern: stopping
Suddenly end a relationship, discussion, activity, or official contact; Detach a piece from something larger by breaking; Take a short pause from an activity
buy off
Same off pattern: stopping
Bribe someone to stop opposing you
call off
Same off pattern: stopping
Cancel a planned event
check off
Same off pattern: stopping
Mark items on a list as done or counted
clear off
Same off pattern: stopping
Leave a place quickly, often when told to; Remove items from a surface; Pay a debt completely
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “write off”.
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “write off” in Sink In
Drill “write off” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
