1 C1 informal
(Regional American English) To look away from something or to gaze into the distance in a thoughtful or distracted way.
"He looked off toward the hills for a moment before answering the question."
inseparable
look off
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To look away, or to gaze into the distance — primarily a regional or dialectal American English expression.
In plain English
To look away from something, or to look into the distance.
What does "look off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To direct your gaze off (away, to the side, into the distance).
Actually means
To look away from something, or to look into the distance.
Usage tip
Not a standard phrasal verb in British English or mainstream American English. Used in certain regional American dialects (particularly Southern and Appalachian English) to mean looking away or gazing into the distance. Standard alternatives ('look away', 'gaze into the distance') are more widely understood. Learners should recognise it but use the standard alternatives.
Words that pair with "look off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
distance window horizon away dreamily
How to conjugate "look off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
look off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
looks off
he/she/it
Past simple
looked off
yesterday
Past participle
looked off
have + pp
-ing form
looking off
continuous
Hear "look off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "look off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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