NYT Dictionary

ALOOF

/əˈluːf/
AdverbAdjectivePrepositiona-LOOFa-loof · 2 syllablesGrade 8

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

offishremotestandoffishaloofcooldistantfrostyhanktyhard-to-getquiet

Antonyms

friendlyhostilenonaloof

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 11 recorded puzzles:

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