What does "askance" mean?
To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.
Askance
/əˈskæns/ adj, adv, verb
adj, adv, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance.
- Grammar: askance is listed as adj, adv, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: agee, aside, askant, askant.
- Useful contrasts: approvingly, openly, trustingly.
- Usage evidence: She looked at me askance, not believing I could have said something so foolish.
How to use "askance"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "askance" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "askance" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "askance" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "askance" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "askance" is acting as adj, adv, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agee" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "askance", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To look at (someone or something) with a sideways glance. rare, transitive
"Bowed heads, Aunt Ellen's, Aunt Laura's, her sister's — bowed but askancing her yellow dress — yes, yellow, golden yellow, hue of sun and life, Dad's favorite, to see him off on this, his greatest journey."
- 2 To turn (one's eye or gaze) to the side. rare, transitive
"The pope askanced his eye at Michael with displeasure, and after a short pause saluted him, " Instead of your coming to us, you seem to have expected that we should attend upon you.""
Adjective
- 1 Turned to the side, especially of the eyes. not-comparable
"My first thought was, he lied in every word, That hoary cripple, with malicious eye Askance to watch the working of his lie"
Adjective
- 1 (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy wordnet
Adverb
- 1 With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion. not-comparable
"The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance."
- 2 Sideways; obliquely. not-comparable
"I glanced askance at this strange creature, and found him watching me with his queer, restless eyes."
Adverb
- 1 with a side or oblique glance wordnet
- 2 with suspicion or disapproval wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"She looked at me askance, not believing I could have said something so foolish."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "askance"?
Common synonyms include: agee, aside, askant, askant, askew, asquint.
How do you use "askance" in a sentence?
She looked at me askance, not believing I could have said something so foolish.
How do you pronounce "askance"?
Pronounced /əˈskæns/.
Etymology
Unknown. Possibly from Middle English askances (“as if”), or from Old French a escone (“hidden”) or Italian a scancio (“obliquely”). Compare asquint, Middle English askoyn (“at a slant, askance”), Dutch schuin, schuins (“sideways”), schuiven (“to shove”), schuinte (“slope”).