After work, he offloaded his worries to a close friend.
Have you got someone you trust enough to offload to?
Do not offload faulty stock without telling the buyer.
You can offload here without being judged.
He tried to offload, but the defender trapped both arms.
Similar words
transfer
empty
unpack
talk
release
feed
unload
release
outsource
hand over
Meanings
Remove a load from transport
verb
transport
neutral
To remove goods, equipment, passengers, or another load from a vehicle, ship, or container.
Examples
The crew offloaded the medical supplies before dawn.
Where should we offload these crates?
Passengers waited while their luggage was offloaded from the plane.
The truck cannot be offloaded until the loading bay is clear.
They offload fresh fish at the harbor every morning.
Similar words
unload
discharge
unpack
remove
unship
empty
Get rid of something unwanted
verb
commerce
informal
To get rid of something unwanted, often by selling it or passing it to someone else.
Examples
She finally offloaded the old sofa on a neighbor.
The club hopes to offload several expensive players this summer.
It is hard to offload a house with serious structural problems.
Do not offload faulty stock without telling the buyer.
Investors offloaded their shares when the warning appeared.
Similar words
sell
dispose of
dump
shift
unload
get rid of
Transfer work or responsibility
verb
work
neutral
To transfer a task, cost, responsibility, or processing load to another person, organization, or system.
Examples
The app offloads image processing to a cloud server.
Managers should not offload every difficult decision onto junior staff.
The policy offloaded cleanup costs onto local taxpayers.
Could we offload some routine checks to an automated tool?
Sketching the diagram offloaded part of the mental work.
Similar words
delegate
transfer
outsource
shift
assign
hand over
Share troubling feelings
verb
emotions
informal
To talk to someone about worries, problems, or strong feelings so that they feel less burdensome.
Examples
After work, he offloaded his worries to a close friend.
You can offload here without being judged.
She did not want to offload all her anger onto her sister.
We spent an hour offloading about the week we had endured.
Have you got someone you trust enough to offload to?
Similar words
confide
vent
unburden oneself
open up
talk
share
Pass while being tackled
verb
rugby
technical
In rugby, to pass the ball to a teammate while an opponent is tackling or holding the ball carrier.
Examples
The center offloaded to the winger just before hitting the ground.
He tried to offload, but the defender trapped both arms.
Do not offload unless a supporting player is ready.
She offloads brilliantly in heavy contact.
The forward stayed upright long enough to offload the ball.
Similar words
pass
release
feed
Pass made during a tackle
noun
rugby
technical
In rugby, a pass made by a ball carrier while being tackled or held by an opponent.
Examples
Her late offload created the winning try.
That risky offload gave possession back to the opposition.
Was the offload completed before his knee touched the ground?
The team practiced quick offloads after contact.
A clean offload kept the attack moving.
Similar words
pass
release
feed
Etymology
Formed from off and load, probably on the model of Dutch afladen and first recorded in South African English in the mid-nineteenth century with the sense “unload.” Its later figurative uses extend the idea of taking a burden away from its original carrier.
FAQ
What does offload mean?
It broadly means removing a load or passing a burden elsewhere. The load may be cargo, unwanted property, work, costs, computer processing, or troubling feelings.
What is the difference between offload and unload?
Both can mean removing cargo from transport. Offload also commonly means transferring unwanted property, work, responsibility, or emotional burdens to someone or something else.
Can a computer offload work?
Yes. A device or program can transfer demanding processing, storage, or network work to another processor, server, or cloud service.
What does offload onto someone imply?
It often suggests passing an unwanted object, duty, cost, blame, or emotional burden to that person, sometimes unfairly.
What is an offload in rugby?
It is a pass made while the ball carrier is being tackled or held, usually to keep the attack moving before a ruck forms.
How do you pronounce offload?
In General American English it is pronounced /ˈɑfˌloʊd/, with the main stress on the first syllable.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.