# aloof

/əˈɫuf/ (US) · /ɐlˈuːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aloof
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. at a distance

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to stay away from a situation or a group of people.

For teachers: at a distance, either physically or in terms of involvement. Often used with the verb 'stand'.

- During the argument, she stood aloof and refused to take sides.
- While the other children played boisterously in the park, the new student stood aloof, watching them with a mixture of curiosity and hesitation.

Usage: Commonly follows the verb 'stand' or 'keep'.

## Examples

- He was very aloof and did not want to talk to anyone.
- The manager was so aloof that the new employees felt uncomfortable asking for help with their first tasks.
- Despite her success in the corporate world, she remained aloof from her former colleagues, preferring the quiet of her private office to the noise of the open-plan floor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.