aloof

C2+ Topic:Describing People

US /əˈluːf/ UK /əˈluːf/ See IPA manual

adj adv

Meanings

1

adj
distant or reserved in manner; not friendly or forthcoming

The new colleague remained aloof, eating lunch alone each day.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · distant or reserved in... distant detached remote reserved standoffish cold

Opposites

friendly warm sociable approachable engaged

Word family

Forms aloofness

Derived forms aloofnessaloofly

Related forms luff

Etymology

Originally a nautical term, from a- ('to, toward') + loof ('windward direction', luff), from Dutch loef ('weather side of a ship'); literally 'to windward', hence 'at a distance'.

loef Dutch

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing People

# aloof

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, adv
**IPA (US):** əˈluːf
**IPA (UK):** əˈluːf

## Meanings
1. distant or reserved in manner; not friendly or forthcoming

## Examples
- The new colleague remained aloof, eating lunch alone each day.

## Synonyms
- distant
- detached
- remote
- reserved
- standoffish
- cold

## Antonyms
- friendly
- warm
- sociable
- approachable
- engaged

## Derived Forms
- aloofness
- aloofly

## Related Forms
- luff

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: loef

## Etymology
Originally a nautical term, from a- ('to, toward') + loof ('windward direction', luff), from Dutch loef ('weather side of a ship'); literally 'to windward', hence 'at a distance'.

## AI Etymology
Aloof is originally a nautical term, from a- ('to, toward') + loof ('windward direction', luff), from Dutch loef ('weather side of a ship'); literally 'to windward', hence 'at a distance'. In present-day use, it means distant or reserved in manner; not friendly or forthcoming. Derived formations include aloofness and aloofly. Related vocabulary includes luff.

## Topics
- Describing People

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