Looking for synonyms for look away? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say look away.
- Avert
- Turn aside
- Divert
- Glance away
- Shift gaze
- Look aside
- Peek away
- Cast eyes away
- Veer sight
- Dodge view
Want to learn how to say look away professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Avert
Avert is appropriate when referring to deliberately avoiding seeing something potentially distressing or harmful. It’s commonly used in professional contexts where focus or attention needs to be directed elsewhere for safety or privacy reasons.
- Example: “During the security briefing, we were advised to avert our eyes from the sensitive content displayed.”
2. Turn aside
Turn aside is suitable when the action involves physically moving one’s head or body to avoid direct eye contact or to avoid looking at something specific. It is often used in situations requiring discretion or respect.
- Example: “When the confidential documents were opened, he turned aside to respect the privacy of the contents.”
3. Divert
Divert is used when changing the direction of one’s gaze to something else, often to avoid an uncomfortable situation or to focus on a different task. It’s applicable in multitasking environments or when changing topics during discussions.
- Example: “To maintain the flow of the meeting, she diverted her attention to the next agenda item.”
4. Glance away
Glance away is appropriate for brief moments where one looks away from something or someone, usually to break eye contact or briefly rest the eyes. It’s suitable in professional settings where prolonged eye contact might be deemed too intense or inappropriate.
- Example: “During the negotiation, he would occasionally glance away to gather his thoughts.”
5. Shift gaze
Shift gaze is used when one moves their focus from one point to another, suitable in environments where attention needs to be distributed across various points of interest, such as during presentations or surveillance.
- Example: “As the speaker progressed through the slides, she shifted her gaze to engage different sections of the audience.”
6. Look aside
Look aside is suitable when avoiding direct eye contact or when the attention is momentarily directed elsewhere. It’s often used in conversations to signal reflection or consideration.
- Example: “He looked aside while considering the implications of the new policy.”
7. Peek away
Peek away implies a quick and often secretive movement of the eyes away from something. It is used in situations requiring caution or in moments of hesitation.
- Example: “While reviewing the confidential report, she occasionally peeked away to ensure no one was watching.”
8. Cast eyes away
Cast eyes away is a more formal expression for directing one’s sight away from something, often used in literary or formal contexts. It suggests a deliberate action to avoid looking at something.
- Example: “Upon entering the room filled with ancient artifacts, he cast his eyes away from the delicate pieces to avoid any risk of damage.”
9. Veer sight
Veer sight is used to describe the action of changing one’s visual focus to a different direction, often abruptly. It’s applicable in situations requiring quick shifts in attention.
- Example: “As the emergency alarms sounded, she veered her sight towards the exits.”
10. Dodge view
Dodge view is appropriate when actively avoiding seeing something by moving one’s head or body. It implies a more physical or evasive action to not see something undesirable.
- Example: “During the surprise inspection, he dodged view of the supervisor to avoid being questioned.”
