Skip to content

away

adverb

  1. in an outward direction
L3267 on Wikidata ↗

adjective

  1. unavailable
  2. distant
L334687 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /əˈweɪ/ / /əˈwɛj/ / /əˈwæɪ/

adj

Etymology: See aweigh.

  1. Misspelling of aweigh.

adv

Etymology: 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”).

  1. From a place, hence.

    He went away on vacation.

    The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments[…]; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.

  2. Aside; off; in another direction.

    I tried to approach him, but he turned away.

  3. Aside, so as to discard something.

    throw away, chuck away, toss away

  4. At a stated distance in time or space.

    Christmas is only two weeks away.

    While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

  5. In or to something's usual or proper storage place.

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

    Please file away these documents.

  6. In or to a secure or out-of-the-way place.

    The jewels were locked away in the safe.

    He was shut away in the castle tower for six months.

  7. From a state or condition of being; out of existence.

    fade away, die away

    I'll sleep the rest of the day away/out and, hopefully, I'll manage to sleep this hangover off/away.

  8. So as to remove or use up something.

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

    Please wipe away this spilled drink.

  9. Come away; go away; take away.

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

    1933+, Fran Striker, The Lone Ranger, WXYZ-AM Hi-yo Silver, away!

  10. On; in continuance; without intermission or delay.

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

  11. Without restraint.

    You've got questions? Ask away!

    I saw her whaling away at her detractors.

intj

Etymology: 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”).

  1. Away with you! Go away! Begone!

verb

Etymology: 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”).

  1. To depart; to go to another place.

    At 9 o'clock sharp he awayed to bed.