1 B2 neutral
To formally arrange and have approved a period of absence from work.
"She booked off two weeks in August to go travelling with her family."
separable
book off
B2 neutral separable transitive
To formally arrange to be absent from work for a specific period, often by registering it with an employer.
In plain English
To officially ask your boss or company if you can have a day (or more) off work, and get it confirmed.
What does "book off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To cancel an existing booking or reservation.
"The client called to book off the appointment they had scheduled for Monday."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To record in a book (official register) that you will be 'off' — referencing the old practice of signing a leave register.
Actually means
To officially ask your boss or company if you can have a day (or more) off work, and get it confirmed.
Usage tip
Common in British and Irish English workplace contexts. The object is typically a block of time: a day, a week, annual leave, etc. Implies a formal or semi-formal approval process. Also used in some contexts to mean cancelling a booking, though that sense is less common.
Words that pair with "book off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
day week holiday leave time afternoon
How to conjugate "book off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
book off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
books off
he/she/it
Past simple
booked off
yesterday
Past participle
booked off
have + pp
-ing form
booking off
continuous
Hear "book off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "book off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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