doff
doff — verb
- doffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- doffshe / she / it
- doffedpast simple
- doffing-ing form
1. to take off one's hat or other headwear as a polite greeting or a gesture of res
to take off one's hat or other headwear as a polite greeting or a gesture of respect toward someone
At the memorial service, Mr. Okafor quietly doffed his cap.
formal respect gesture at ceremonies
Jude doffed his cap when the mayor entered the room.
When the national anthem began, the veterans doffed their caps.
Mira doffed her riding helmet before greeting the stable owner.
The officer doffed his cap and gave a slight bow to the general.
- don
the counterpart verb meaning to put on clothing
文法句型
doff + hat / cap / headwear
用法筆記
This sense is historically tied to Western hat-tipping etiquette and is now largely literary or period-specific. The object is almost always a type of headwear (hat, cap, helmet).
常見錯誤
2. to acknowledge and express admiration for someone's achievements, qualities, or
to acknowledge and express admiration for someone's achievements, qualities, or contributions, often in a public statement
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Patel doffed his hat to the research team.
figurative: doff one's hat to [someone]
The young painter's style doffs its cap to the Impressionist tradition.
Tunde doffed his hat to the volunteers who rebuilt the school.
The singer doffed her cap to the fans who had supported her for decades.
- salute
more common and slightly less literary; can be literal or figurative
- acknowledge
broader and more neutral; lacks the respectful admiration of doff
- pay homage to
more formal and elaborate; stronger sense of reverence
- disrespect
direct opposite in attitude, though not a direct lexical antonym
文法句型
doff one's hat to + noun
用法筆記
Always used in the fixed expression 'doff one's hat/cap to [someone/something]'. The physical act of removing headwear is metaphorical here — the speaker is showing respect rather than actually removing a hat.
常見錯誤
3. to take an item of clothing off your body, especially in a deliberate or careful
to take an item of clothing off your body, especially in a deliberate or careful way
Yumi doffed her coat and hung it on the hook by the door.
doff + coat
The actor doffed his heavy costume after the final stage performance.
Gabriela doffed her gardening gloves and washed her hands at the sink.
Roya doffed her scarf as she stepped into the warm house.
Minh doffed his wet shoes and placed them near the fireplace.
- don
the paired verb meaning to put on clothing; together 'don and doff' appear in formal or instructional writing
文法句型
doff + article of clothing
用法筆記
In modern English, 'take off' is far more common. 'Doff' carries a literary or old-fashioned tone and is used mostly in formal writing or historical fiction.
常見錯誤
4. to remove the finished spools of thread, rolls of cloth, or similar parts from a
to remove the finished spools of thread, rolls of cloth, or similar parts from a weaving or spinning machine and fit empty replacements
The factory worker doffed the full spindles every two hours.
textile machinery operation
Dewi carefully doffed the finished cloth roll from the loom.
Sahil watched the technician doff the finished bobbins and fit empty replacements.
Ari learned to doff the finished cloth roll from the loom as part of the factory training program.
文法句型
doff + bobbins / spindles / cloth roll
用法筆記
This technical sense is only used in the textile industry. The noun 'doffer' refers to a worker or machine part that performs this task.