aloof

C2+ Topic:Describing People

US /əˈluːf/ UK /əˈluːf/ See IPA manual

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

Common collocations

aloof dignity Adjective + noun

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'.

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing People

External links

# aloof

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**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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