Away

/əˈweɪ/ adj, adv, intj, verb

adj, adv, intj, verb ·Common ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: To depart; to go to another place.
  • Grammar: away is listed as adj, adv, intj, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: out, a rebours, a reculons, ab-.
  • Useful contrasts: home, icelandic nálægt, new present.
  • Usage evidence: You're just running away from life's problems.

How to use "away"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "away" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "away" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "away" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "away" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "away" is acting as adj, adv, intj, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "out" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "away", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To depart; to go to another place. intransitive, poetic

    "At 9 o'clock sharp he awayed to bed."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Not here, gone, absent, unavailable, traveling; on vacation. not-comparable

    "The master is away from home."

  2. 2
    Misspelling of aweigh. alt-of, misspelling
  3. 3
    At a specified distance in space, time, or figuratively. not-comparable

    "He's miles away by now."

  4. 4
    Not on one's home territory. not-comparable

    "This is the entrance for away supporters."

  5. 5
    Out. not-comparable

    "Two men away in the bottom of the ninth."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Being the player whose ball lies farthest from the hole (or, in disc golf, whose disc lies farthest from the target). not-comparable

    "For example, immediately after every person in the group has teed off, if you are clearly the away player (perhaps because you smacked your drive into the tree closest to the tee pad), you should grab your bag and try to be the first person advancing down the fairway."

Adjective
  1. 1
    (of a baseball pitch) on the far side of home plate from the batter wordnet
  2. 2
    used of an opponent's ground wordnet
  3. 3
    not present; having left wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    From a place, hence. not-comparable

    "He went away on vacation."

  2. 2
    Aside; off; in another direction. not-comparable

    "I tried to approach him, but he turned away."

  3. 3
    Aside, so as to discard something. not-comparable

    "throw away, chuck away, toss away"

  4. 4
    At a stated distance in time or space. not-comparable

    "Christmas is only two weeks away."

  5. 5
    In or to something's usual or proper storage place. not-comparable

    "I'll dry the dishes and you put them away."

Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    In or to a secure or out-of-the-way place. not-comparable

    "The jewels were locked away in the safe."

  2. 7
    From a state or condition of being; out of existence. not-comparable

    "fade away, die away"

  3. 8
    So as to remove or use up something. not-comparable

    "The weather has worn away the inscription, and it is no longer legible."

  4. 9
    Come away; go away; take away. not-comparable

    "Away! Be gone! And don't let me see you round here again!"

  5. 10
    On; in continuance; without intermission or delay. not-comparable

    "She's been in her room all day, working away at her computer."

  6. 11
    Without restraint. not-comparable

    "You've got questions? Ask away!"

Adverb
  1. 1
    from a particular thing or place or position (‘forth’ is obsolete) wordnet
  2. 2
    from one's possession wordnet
  3. 3
    in reserve; not for immediate use wordnet
  4. 4
    out of the way (especially away from one's thoughts) wordnet
  5. 5
    out of existence wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    indicating continuing action; continuously or steadily wordnet
  2. 7
    in a different direction wordnet
  3. 8
    in or into a proper place (especially for storage or safekeeping) wordnet
  4. 9
    at a distance in space or time wordnet
  5. 10
    so as to be removed or gotten rid of wordnet
  6. 11
    freely or at will wordnet
Intj
  1. 1
    Away with you! Go away! Scotland

Synonyms

All synonyms
outa reboursa reculonsab-abroadabroad

Antonyms

homeicelandic nálægtnew presentpresent tense form

Example

"You're just running away from life's problems."

Common questions

What does "away" mean?

To depart; to go to another place.

What is a synonym for "away"?

Common synonyms include: out, a rebours, a reculons, ab-, abroad, abroad.

How do you use "away" in a sentence?

You're just running away from life's problems.

How do you pronounce "away"?

Pronounced /əˈweɪ/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English away, awey, awei, oway, o wey, on way, from Old English āweġ, onweġ (“away”), originally on weġ (“on one's way; onward; on”), equivalent to a- (“on”) + way. Cognate with Scots awa, away (“away”), Old Frisian aweg, awei (“away”), Saterland Frisian wäch, wääge (“away”), Dutch weg (“away”), German weg (“away”), Danish væk (“away”), Swedish i väg (“away; off; along”).

Etymology 2

See aweigh.

More for "away"

Synonyms

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