away
uh-WAY
Away (adv) means From this place or position; to or at a distance. Example: “She walked away without saying a word.”
adv
1
From this place or position; to or at a distance.
"She walked away without saying a word."
"The beach is just a mile away."
"The birds flew away as soon as the dog ran across the grass."
adj
1
Absent, not in one's usual location.
"He's away on business this week."
"My sister is away at university, so her room is empty."
"The manager is away from her desk until after lunch."
2
sport: Played on the opponent's home ground.
"United won 2-0 in their away match."
"Our team lost its away game, but the fans still sang all the way home."
"Playing an away match is hard because the crowd supports the other side."
How to use away
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot here — either physically distant, absent, or (in sport) playing on the other team's ground.
Common pairings
far away
go away
away game
right away
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- aways
- Past tense
- awayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She walked _____ without saying a word.
Etymology
From Old English onweġ, literally "on one's way", from a- + way.
Related words
Rhymes for away
See all rhymes for away →Frequently asked questions
What does “away” mean?
The word “away” means from this place or position; to or at a distance. In plain terms, not here — either physically distant, absent, or (in sport) playing on the other team's ground.
How do you pronounce “away”?
“Away” is pronounced uh-WAY (/əˈweɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “away” in a sentence?
Here is “away” used in a sentence: “She walked away without saying a word.”
What part of speech is “away”?
Depending on how it is used, “away” can be an adverb and an adjective.
Where does the word “away” come from?
The word “away” comes from Old English. From Old English onweġ, literally "on one's way", from a- + way.
Is “away” a common word?
“Away” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “away” have?
“Away” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: from this place or position; to or at a distance.
What is the difference between 'away' and 'far'?
'Away' describes movement or position at a distance from a point, as in 'walk away' or 'three miles away.' 'Far' describes how great that distance is: 'far away' means a long way off. You can be a short distance away, but 'far' always implies a large gap.
What does 'away' mean in sport, as in an 'away' game?
In sport, an 'away' game or team plays at the opponent's ground rather than its own. The opposite is a 'home' game. Because the away side travels and lacks local support, 'away' often carries a sense of being on unfamiliar territory, at a slight disadvantage.
What is an example of 'away' in a sentence?
'She moved away from the window,' 'the shop is two streets away,' and 'put your toys away' all use the adverb. It signals distance or removal — going away, keeping away, or being away — and often pairs with a verb to show motion in a direction.
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