Askew means something is not straight or is tilted. It is often used to describe objects that are placed wrongly or unevenly.
The picture frame hangs askew on the wall.
Her hat was worn askew all day long.
Askew can mean that something has gone wrong or is not as it should be. It is used to talk about plans, ideas, or situations that are not correct or have problems.
Something went askew during our plan yesterday.
Her thoughts were all askew after the bad news.
Askew describes a face or body part that is not straight but tilted or not aligned correctly. It can show attitude or emotion in a visible way.
He gave her an askew smile during the meeting.
Her head was tilted askew while she listened.
When used as a verb, to look askew means to look at someone or something sideways, often with distrust or doubt. This use is less common but understood.
He asked her question while looking askew.
They viewed the new idea askew at first.
In printing or design, askew is used to describe words or images that are not lined up correctly. They may be slightly tilted or not straight on the page.
The text was askew on the printed page.
The logo appeared askew in the brochure design.
Askew in science can mean something that is not straight but placed at an angle compared to a main line or surface, like rocks or fences. It shows a slant or tilt.
The fault line runs askew to the mountain range.
The fence was built askew to the property line.
