doff
Americanverb (used with object)
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to remove or take off, as clothing.
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to remove or tip (the hat), as in greeting.
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to throw off; get rid of.
Doff your stupid ideas and join our side!
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Textiles.
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to strip (carded fiber) from a carding machine.
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to remove (full bobbins, material, etc.) from a textile machine.
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noun
verb
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to take off or lift (one's hat) in salutation
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to remove (clothing)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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doffsimple
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doffssimple
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have doffedperfect
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has doffedperfect
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am doffingprogressive
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are doffingprogressive
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is doffingprogressive
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have been doffingperfect progressive
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has been doffingperfect progressive
Past
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doffedsimple
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had doffedperfect
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was doffingprogressive
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were doffingprogressive
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had been doffingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of doff
1300–50; Middle English, contraction of do off; cf. don 1
Explanation
Use the verb doff to describe removing something. You probably always doff your cap before the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The word doff and its antonym don date to the mid-14th century. Doff is a contraction of "do (take) off," and don is short for "do (put) on." By 1755, these words were all but obsolete, but they came back into vogue thanks to Sir Walter Scott, author of works like Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Lady of the Lake. The popular Scottish author used them frequently, and he and his readers kept doff and don alive.
Vocabulary lists containing doff
Romeo and Juliet
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Chains
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Long before the civil wars, men and boys were expected to doff their hats, indoors or out, whenever they met a superior," he says.
From Science Daily ● May 7, 2026
The sellout crowd, which had long been on its feet, continuing cheering, eventually drawing Kershaw back out onto the field to doff his cap in appreciation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2025
When they arrive, there is a ceremonial greeting, where the Lords doff their black bicorn hats and the Commons representatives acknowledge this by bowing.
From BBC ● May 25, 2024
Ms. Stewart’s short chain mail Chanel dress was a fighting mix of armor and crystals, but what really made news was her decision to doff her Christian Louboutin stilettos and walk up the stairs barefoot.
From New York Times ● May 10, 2023
Tiny Shanks took the keys with a doff of his imaginary cap and then ran off.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
A lone shepherd respectfully doffs his hat as he finds himself in the presence of an angel trailing a long message: “I bring you tidings of great joy . . . ”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
She changes out of her scrubs, doffs her shoes and showers before venturing through the shared house.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2021
In a foundational scene of monotheism, Moses doffs his kicks to approach the burning bush; shoes are, by their pedestrian nature, unfit for holy ground.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 14, 2019
The music nods at Gregorian chant, doffs its cap to Shostakovich, gives a thumbs up to industrial metal, and is uniquely Scott Walker.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 23, 2012
He never doffs the iron mask, the "rigidi censura cachinni;" he has so long hidden his face that he is afraid to see it himself or to let it be seen.
From The History of Roman Literature From the earliest period to the death of Marcus Aurelius by Cruttwell, Charles Thomas
He didn’t have to make the gesture; but it’s a measure of his decency that he doffed his hat to her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
And once Freeman pulled into the base safely, he doffed his helmet and absorbed the scene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2023
Coach Prime doffed his hat to the crowd and took a bow before a 90-something long-time fan literally kicked things off with her right foot as numerous former Colorado players looked on.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 26, 2023
He doffed his cap and clapped his hands in response.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2022
When he reached the car, the figure doffed his cap and recited in a loud clear voice: “My angles are many. My sides are not few. I’m the Dodecahedron. Who are you?”
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
After doffing their shoes, presumably to protect the plush, vibrantly red carpet that covers the theater’s floor, audience members take seats arranged in concentric circles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
The bipartisan crowd cheered loudly for Ohtani, who acknowledged the love by doffing his batting helmet several times.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2024
He received a standing ovation before his first at-bat, doffing his helmet to the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2023
When his victory was secured Sunday evening, a smiling and even giggling Cantlay remained on the green and saluted the spectators by doffing his cap and waving it at the grandstand.
From New York Times ● Aug. 29, 2021
As she passed, people on the streets hastily made way for her, some doffing their hats, or inclining their heads in reverence.
From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
