aloof
/əˈluːf/
Group 5Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant GRE
Example in Context
The new director remained aloof from office politics, a stance that earned her respect from some colleagues and suspicion from others.
Synonyms
distantdetachedstandoffish
Etymology
Not near or distant; emotionally detached from others.
- a- (Greek) — not
- loof (Old Norse) — near
Memory Aid
🍞Sounds like “a loaf”
Imagine a LOAF of bread sitting alone on a picnic table, too ALOOF to join the sandwich party!
Visual Association
😶A solitary figure standing far away from a lively crowd, looking disinterested and cool.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “aloof” mean on the GRE?
aloof (adjective) means “Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant”. The new director remained aloof from office politics, a stance that earned her respect from some colleagues and suspicion from others.
How to remember “aloof” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “aloof” sounds like “a loaf”. Imagine a LOAF of bread sitting alone on a picnic table, too ALOOF to join the sandwich party!
What are synonyms for “aloof”?
Common synonyms: distant, detached, standoffish.