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noun B1 Intermediate

takeaway

TAY-kuh-way
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Takeaway (noun) means the key point or lesson drawn from a discussion, event, or piece of information. Example: “The main takeaway from the meeting was that the deadline needs to move.”

noun
1
The key point or lesson drawn from a discussion, event, or piece of information.
"The main takeaway from the meeting was that the deadline needs to move."
2
Chiefly British: food bought from a restaurant to eat elsewhere, or the restaurant itself.
"Some of the cheapest places to eat in Kampala are the ubiquitous takeaways that dot the city centre." — Mary Fitzpatrick, Tom Parkinson (2006)
"If you're hungry, there's a takeaway just around the corner."
"We ordered a curry takeaway on Friday night."

How to use takeaway

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the main lesson you leave a conversation with, or (mainly UK) food ordered to go.

UK vs US

In British English, "takeaway" is standard for food to go; American English usually says "takeout" for the same idea.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
key takeaway order a takeaway
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Word forms

Plural
takeaways
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The main _____ from the meeting was that the deadline needs to move.

Etymology

A deverbal noun formed from the phrasal verb "take away."

takeout takeout food

Related words

Rhymes for takeaway

See all rhymes for takeaway →

Frequently asked questions

What does “takeaway” mean?
The word “takeaway” means the key point or lesson drawn from a discussion, event, or piece of information. In plain terms, either the main lesson you leave a conversation with, or (mainly UK) food ordered to go.
How do you pronounce “takeaway”?
“Takeaway” is pronounced TAY-kuh-way (/ˈteɪkəweɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “takeaway” in a sentence?
Here is “takeaway” used in a sentence: “The main takeaway from the meeting was that the deadline needs to move.”
What part of speech is “takeaway”?
“Takeaway” is a noun.
How many meanings does “takeaway” have?
“Takeaway” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the key point or lesson drawn from a discussion, event, or piece of information.

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