doff

American  

[dof, dawf] / dɒf, dɔf /

verb (used with object)

• doffs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• doffed,
  past participle,  past
• doffing
  present participle

1. to remove or take off, as clothing.

2. to remove or tip (the hat), as in greeting.

3. to throw off; get rid of.

   Doff your stupid ideas and join our side!

4. Textiles.

   1. to strip (carded fiber) from a carding machine.

   2. to remove (full bobbins, material, etc.) from a textile machine.

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noun

1. Textiles.

   1. the act of removing bobbins, material, etc., and stripping fibers from a textile machine.

   2. the material so doffed.

doff British  

/ dɒf /

verb

1. to take off or lift (one's hat) in salutation

2. to remove (clothing)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• doffer
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• doffing
  present
• doffed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• doff
  simple
• doffs
  simple
• have doffed
  perfect
• has doffed
  perfect
• am doffing
  progressive
• are doffing
  progressive
• is doffing
  progressive
• have been doffing
  perfect progressive
• has been doffing
  perfect progressive

Past

• doffed
  simple
• had doffed
  perfect
• was doffing
  progressive
• were doffing
  progressive
• had been doffing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will doff
  simple
• will have doffed
  perfect
• will be doffing
  progressive
• will have been doffing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of doff

1300–50; Middle English, contraction of do off; cf. don ¹

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

doff doffs doffed doffing

"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

No official ever decided that respectable men and women were permitted to doff their hats and gloves in the 1960s or to get pierced and tattooed in the 1990s.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

When forced by Pozzo to dance, Mr. Thornton merely doffs his bowler hat rhythmically a few times in a funny nod to Bob Fosse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 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

Then Halfdan, deeply blushing, doffs with haste His iron-gauntlet and,—with hearty grasp embrac’d,— Each long, long, sever’d hand Its friend-foe hails, steadfast as mountain-bases stand!

From Myths of the Norsemen From the Eddas and Sagas by H. A. (Hélène Adeline) Guerber

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

After the video, Kershaw stepped out of the far end of the dugout and doffed his cap to the crowd before the game resumed with the White Sox leading 4-2.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2025

The Americans defeated China on penalties in front of a sellout crowd at the Rose Bowl and Brandi Chastain doffed her jersey in celebration.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 6, 2023

The football writers doffed their caps to Erling Haaland by honouring him with their award as footballer of the year for his heroic efforts for Manchester City this season.

From BBC ● May 15, 2023

The banker doffed his hat and made a sweeping bow.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

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

“As more scientific data availed itself, it became obvious that our greatest exposure to carcinogens is our daily donning and doffing of PPE bunker gear,” he continued.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 14, 2023

“Good to see you, John,” he says, doffing his cap.

From New York Times ● Mar. 22, 2023

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

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