count off
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To say numbers while going through a list of things or people.
Literal meaning: To count each thing and mark it off — fully transparent.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To count a group of people or things one by one, often by number or name.
"The teacher counted off the students as they boarded the coach."
Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral
To list items in a sequence, often to enumerate reasons, steps, or examples.
"She counted off three major reasons why the project had failed."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Commonly used in military contexts (soldiers counting off) and in list-making. Also used when counting beats in music.
Commonly used with
names items steps soldiers reasons beats
Forms
Base
count off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
counts off
he/she/it
Past simple
counted off
yesterday
Past participle
counted off
have + pp
-ing form
counting off
continuous
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