Phrase guide

look away

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To ignore something; to pretend not to have seen or noticed something; to avoid dealing with something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • It's important not to look away from difficult situations like this.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

avert one's gaze

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She looked away when the nurse pricked her arm with the needle

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: look

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: غضّ النظر — ignore something; to pretend not to see
  • Arabic: غضّ الطرف — ignore something; to pretend not to see
  • Esperanto: forrigardi — ignore something; to pretend not to see
  • German: wegsehen — ignore something; to pretend not to see
  • German: wegschauen — ignore something; to pretend not to see
  • German: wegblicken — ignore something; to pretend not to see