away
away
(əweɪ )Away is often used with verbs of movement, such as 'go' and 'drive', and also in phrasal verbs such as 'do away with' and 'fade away'.
1. adverb [ADVERB after verb] [be ADVERB]
If someone or something moves or is moved away from a place, they move or are moved so that they are no longer there. If you are away from a place, you are not in the place where people expect you to be.
An injured policeman was led away by colleagues.
He walked away from his car.
She drove away before either of them could speak again.
Jason was away on a business trip.
Simon had been away a good deal lately.
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
3. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you put or tidy something away, you put it where it should be. If you hide someone or something away, you put them in a place where nobody can see them or find them.
I put my journal away and prepared for bed.
All her letters were carefully filed away in folders.
I have $100m hidden away where no one will ever find it.
5. adverb
6. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
...a sensational 4-3 victory for the team playing away.
7. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You can use away to say that something slowly disappears, becomes less significant, or changes so that it is no longer the same.
So much snow has already melted away.
His voice died away in a whisper.
The Liberal Democrat's support fell away at the last minute.
8. adverb [ADVERB after verb] [noun ADVERB]
You use away to show that there has been a change or development from one state or situation to another.
British courts are increasingly moving away from sending young offenders to prison.
There's been a dramatic shift away from traditional careers towards business and commerce.
9. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
[emphasis]
He would often be working away on his computer late into the night.
She sighed, her heart banging away against her ribs as she opened the door.
10. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use away to show that something is removed.
If you take my work away I can't be happy anymore.
The waitress whipped the plate away and put down my bill.
Weeks of heavy rain have washed away roads and bridges.
11. far and away
12. right away
