away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "away" can be correct and usable in written English, depending on the context in which it is used.
You can use it to indicate distance or separation from a place or person, or to suggest a sense of removal or absence. Example: "Please take the trash away before the guests arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In his speech Mandelson claimed Eurosceptics had got away with "murder".

The Guardian

"There was a group of us who had dinner together on a Tuesday night [at parliament] … I was sitting beside Mr Obeid at the time and was told 'Keep away from Ms Schott – they're coming after her,' " Costa said.

The Guardian

Steve Hibbert, bar manager at the Oaks Working Men's Club, where Pugh is employed, said he was shocked to see him being carried away from the scene on a stretcher in television footage.

The Guardian

He was chased for "catching the eye" of a lieutenant and running away.

The Guardian

But they didn't realise that Rudd would never give up, the wounds would never heal and he would never go away.

The Guardian

The former European trade commissioner said: "For far too long, those who want to destroy Britain's interests and influence in Europe have been allowed to get away with murder with the lies and false propaganda they have poured out about the European Union and what it represents for our country.

The Guardian

So don't for a moment let Labour get away with it.

The Economist

Fire away.

The New York Times - Sports

To move Europe away from the brink, voters and politicians on all sides need to stop asking themselves what's fair and start asking themselves what's possible.

The Economist

"Far, far away".

The New York Times - Health

The public health community has an important role to play in demonstrating the magnitude of tobacco's threat to public health and calling on governments to strip away the trademark protections, rights to sue and opportunities to lobby that big tobacco uses to bully public representatives.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "away" in the context of time, ensure it is followed by a clear time frame to avoid ambiguity (e.g., "weeks away", "days away").

Common error

Avoid confusing "away" (an adverb or adjective indicating distance or absence) with "a way" (a noun phrase referring to a method or approach). Always double-check your sentence to ensure you're using the correct form.

Linguistic Context

The word "away" functions primarily as an adverb, modifying verbs to indicate movement or separation from a place or state. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes direction, distance, or absence. Examples show its use in phrases like "go away" or "far away".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Sport

12%

Travel

7%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Business

3%

Lifestyle

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "away" functions mainly as an adverb, signifying distance, separation, or absence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. While the term holds a neutral register, authoritative sources like The Guardian, The Economist, and The New York Times frequently employ it. To avoid confusion, differentiate "away" from "a way". Consider context-specific alternatives like ""at a distance"" or "gone" for enhanced precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a distance

Emphasizes the spatial separation, focusing on the measurement of the gap.

in another place

Highlights a change in location, moving to a different spot.

off

A shorter, more casual way to indicate departure or being gone.

gone

Simple term indicating absence or departure.

removed

Implies a deliberate action of taking something or someone from a location.

departed

Formal term suggesting a more official or permanent leave.

absent

Focuses on the state of not being present.

afar

Suggests a great distance, often used poetically or formally.

at a remove

Suggests a degree of separation, either physically or figuratively.

out of reach

Indicates something is not accessible or attainable due to distance or other barriers.

FAQs

How can I use "away" in a sentence to indicate distance?

You can use "away" to specify the separation between two points, as in "The beach is only a mile "at a distance"" or "Their new house is further "at a distance" from the city center".

What are some alternatives to using "away" to describe something that is no longer present?

If you want to describe something that is no longer present, you could use terms like "gone", "departed", or "absent" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I live far away from here" or "I live far from here"?

Both are correct, but "I live far from here" is more common. "At a distance" simply adds emphasis to the separation.

What's the difference between "away" and "off"?

"Away" generally implies a movement or state of being separated from a place or thing. "Off" can also indicate separation, but it often suggests a disconnection or termination, such as "The meeting is off" or "He is off work". In the context of distance, you can say someone is "absent" on vacation, and "off" means not working, while "away" indicates they are at another location.