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look away

A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To stop looking at something by turning your eyes in a different direction.

Literal meaning: To direct your gaze away (in a different direction) from something.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To stop looking at something by turning your eyes in another direction, often because it is unpleasant or because you feel embarrassed.

"She looked away when their eyes met across the room, her cheeks turning red."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

(Figurative) To deliberately ignore or avoid acknowledging something troubling or wrong.

"We cannot look away from the suffering that is happening in our own communities."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common in everyday English. Often used to describe discomfort, embarrassment, shyness, or inability to watch something unpleasant. Also used in instructions asking someone to stop watching. Common in narrative writing.

Commonly used with

quickly in embarrassment from the screen in disgust couldn't look away refused to look away

Forms

Base
look away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
looks away
he/she/it
Past simple
looked away
yesterday
Past participle
looked away
have + pp
-ing form
looking away
continuous

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