/ əˈweɪ; NAmE / adverb
HELP NOTE : For the special uses of away in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example get away with sth is in the phrasal verb section at get .
1.
away (from sb/sth) to or at a distance from sb/sth in space or time :
The beach is a mile away.
The station is a few minutes' walk away.
Christmas is still months away.
2.
to a different place or in a different direction :
Go away!
Put your toys away.
The bright light made her look away.
3.
away (from sb/sth) not present
SYN absent :
She was away from work for a week.
There were ten children away yesterday.
Sorry, he's away.
4.
used after verbs to say that sth is done continuously or with a lot of energy :
She was still writing away furiously when the bell went.
They were soon chatting away like old friends.
5.
until disappearing completely :
The water boiled away.
The music faded away.
They danced the night away (= all night) .
6.
( sport ) at the opponent's ground or stadium :
Chelsea are playing away this Saturday.
an away match / game
—compare home
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IDIOMS
- away with ...
—more at cobwebs , dance verb , far adverb , right adverb , straight adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English onweg , aweg on one's way (from a- to, towards and way ).