Spanish word

alejar

Pronunciation

IPA/aleˈxaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbmove ... away

Example

¿Puedes alejar esa silla un poco, por favor?

Can you move that chair a little farther away, please?

Illustration for alejar (move ... away)

More examples

Prefiero alejar la mirada para no involucrarme.

I prefer to look away so as not to get involved.

Core concept

Creating distance so something is no longer near or accessible.

Common phrases

  • alejar la mirada

    look away

  • alejar el peligro

    keep danger away

  • alejar las dudas

    dispel doubts

Similar words

mover: Moves an object or person to a different place.
alejarse: Moves oneself to a farther location, leaving the original spot.
apartar: Sets an item aside so it no longer occupies the immediate spot.
retirar: Takes an item away from its place so it is no longer there.

Definition in Spanish

Hacer que algo deje de estar cerca o accesible, tanto físicamente como en sentido figurado.

Word origin

It is derived from the prefix a- plus Spanish lejos 'far' (ultimately from Latin longius), originally turning the adjective into a verb expressing making something distant.

Usage tips

  • Alejar contrasts with quitar and separar: alejar emphasizes creating distance, quitar emphasizes removal, and separar emphasizes putting things apart.

Other meanings

  • keep ... awayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • alejamientodistancingnoun
  • alejadodistantadjective

Word lists with this word