aloof

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aloof from (someone or something)

1. Emotionally or physically distant from someone or something. I've never seen the CEO before—he stays pretty aloof from the rest of us. I don't think Holly is ready to talk about her breakup yet—she's been keeping aloof from all of us lately. The shy boy remained aloof from the rest of the party, spending his time alone in front of the TV.

2. Detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always been aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I made a decision to stand aloof from the partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, I was there to study so I could get a good career. Good luck staying aloof from the family drama if you're going to Thanksgiving dinner.

be aloof from (someone or something)

1. To be physically or emotionally distant from someone or something. I've never seen the CEO before—he stays pretty aloof from the rest of us. Holly's been pretty aloof from all of us recently. I don't think she's ready to talk about her breakup yet. A: "Did that kid talk to anyone while he was here?" B: "Nah, he was aloof from the rest of the party, as far as I could tell."

2. To be detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always been aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I made the decision be aloof from the partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, I was there to study so I could get a good career after I graduated. There's no way to be aloof from the family drama if you're actually at Thanksgiving dinner—that's why I'm skipping it this year.

hold (oneself) aloof from (someone or something)

old-fashioned To remain detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always held himself aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I implore you to hold yourself aloof from those partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, you are there to study so you can get a good career out of it!

keep aloof from (someone or something)

1. To remain emotionally or physically distant from someone or something. I've never seen the CEO before—he keeps pretty aloof from the rest of us. I don't think Holly is ready to talk about her breakup yet—she's been keeping aloof from all of us lately. The shy boy kept aloof from the rest of the party, preferring to sit by himself in front of the TV.

2. To remain detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always kept aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I made a decision to keep aloof from the partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, I was there to study so I could get a good career after I graduated.

remain aloof from (someone or something)

1. To remain emotionally or physically distant from someone or something. I've never seen the CEO before—he remains pretty aloof from the rest of us. I don't think Holly is ready to talk about her breakup yet—she's been remaining aloof from all of us lately. The shy boy remained aloof from the rest of the party, preferring to sit by himself in front of the TV.

2. To remain detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always remained aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I made a decision to remain aloof from the partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, I was there to study so I could get a good career after I graduated.

stand aloof from (someone or something)

1. To remain emotionally or physically distant from someone or something. I've never seen the CEO before—he stands pretty aloof from the rest of us. I don't think Holly is ready to talk about her breakup yet—she's been standing aloof from all of us lately. The shy boy stood aloof from the rest of the party, preferring to sit by himself in front of the TV.

2. To remain detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always stood aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I made a decision to stand aloof from the partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, I was there to study so I could get a good career after I graduated.

stay aloof from (someone or something)

1. To remain emotionally or physically distant from someone or something. I've never seen the CEO before—he stays pretty aloof from the rest of us. I don't think Holly is ready to talk about her breakup yet—she's been staying aloof from all of us lately. The shy boy stayed aloof from the rest of the party, preferring to sit by himself in front of the TV.

2. To remain detached from or uninvolved with someone or something, especially in an indifferent or supercilious manner. Khalid has always stayed aloof from local politics, which he considers to be a waste of valuable time. I made a decision to stay aloof from the partygoers and layabouts in college. After all, I was there to study so I could get a good career after I graduated.

*aloof from someone or something

being remote or distant from someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; keep ~; remain ~; stay ~.) She tends to keep aloof from the rest of us. Ken stays aloof from other committee members between meetings.