allontanare

Allontanare is an Italian transitive verb meaning to move something away or to distance someone or something from another thing. It can refer to physical displacement as well as figurative distancing, such as keeping someone at a distance emotionally or preventing an outcome (for example, allontanare la tentazione).

Etymology and form: the verb is formed from the adjective lontano, meaning far away, with the prefix all- creating a verb sense of withdrawal or separation. The related noun lontananza means distance. Allontanare belongs to the first conjugation, the -are verbs.

Usage: allontanare is commonly used with da to indicate separation from a person or place (allontanare qualcuno da qualcosa; allontanarsi da un luogo). Examples: “Il vento ha allontanato la barca dal molo.” “La legge mira ad allontanare i giovani dalla povertà.” “Si è allontanato dalla persona amata.” The verb can also express deterring or warding off something, as in “allontanare la tentazione.”

Conjugation notes: as a regular -are verb, its present indicative forms are io allontano, tu allontani, lui/lei allontana, noi allontaniamo, voi allontanate, loro allontanano. The passato prossimo uses avere: ho allontanato. Other tenses follow the standard pattern for -are verbs. There is also a reflexive form, allontanarsi, with corresponding reflexive conjugations (mi allontano; mi sono allontanato/a).

Nouns and related terms: allontanamento (the act of distancing or driving away) and allontanato/a (distanced). See also constructions with da and the related verb allontanarsi for reflexive usage.