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."
inseparable
look away
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To turn your eyes in a different direction, away from something you were looking at or do not want to see.
In plain English
To stop looking at something by turning your eyes in a different direction.
What does "look away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To direct your gaze away (in a different direction) from something.
Actually means
To stop looking at something by turning your eyes in a different direction.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "look away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
quickly in embarrassment from the screen in disgust couldn't look away refused to look away
How to conjugate "look away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "look away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "look away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.