eat away

USAGE SUMMARY

"eat away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb phrase to mean "to consume, destroy, or remove gradually or bit by bit". Example: The saltwater began to eat away at the coral reefs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will eat away at them.

The Guardian - Sport

Can you eat away at your cancer risk?

Harvard University

That can eat away at your health and well-being.

University of California, Berkeley

"You know a bad conscience can eat away your body, eat away your health.

The New York Times

The engineer and computer scientist gradually eat away the power of the doctor!

Ethics, Medicine and Public Health

"What this does is eat away at spiritual authority.

The New York Times

Those changes steadily eat away at that safety margin.

The Guardian - Opinion

Solitude and uncertainty eat away at her like acid.

The New York Times - Books

"Those hard times, they eat away at you.

The New York Times - Sports

In recent years, however, intensive development has begun to eat away at the pronghorn's territory.

Yale University

"The lesions eat away and kill the tissue, and then the whole blade can break off.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "eat away" to describe emotional distress, ensure the context clearly establishes the source and target of the distress. For example, "Guilt can eat away at your conscience."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "eat away" with similar phrasal verbs like "wear away" or "chip away". "Eat away" often implies a more corrosive or destructive action, whether physical or emotional.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "eat away" functions primarily as a transitive verb, indicating a gradual process of erosion, consumption, or destruction. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts. Examples show it acting upon both physical objects and abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "eat away" is a versatile expression used to describe a gradual process of erosion, consumption, or destruction, as validated by Ludwig. It can apply to both physical substances and abstract concepts, such as emotions or confidence. The usage is generally neutral, making it suitable for various contexts, from news reports to academic discussions. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "erode gradually" or "wear down bit by bit", the specific connotation of corrosive or destructive action makes "eat away" a unique and valuable term. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct and very common. Remember to use "eat away" when you want to portray the sense of something deteriorating or vanishing gradually.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erode gradually

Focuses on the gradual aspect of erosion, similar to "eat away" but more specific to physical wearing down.

corrode slowly

Emphasizes the corrosive action and its slowness, akin to how "eat away" describes a gradual process.

gradually consume

Highlights the act of consumption over time, sharing the gradual nature of "eat away".

wear down bit by bit

Stresses the incremental wearing down, mirroring the slow and continuous destruction implied by "eat away".

undermine steadily

Suggests a weakening or destruction of a foundation over time, similar to the effect of "eat away".

slowly destroy

Focuses on the gradual destruction, similar to "eat away" but broader in application.

gradually diminish

Highlights the gradual reduction or weakening, similar to "eat away" when referring to abstract things like confidence.

gnaw at

Implies a persistent and troubling effect, similar to how "eat away" can describe emotional distress.

chip away at

Suggests removing small pieces over time, analogous to the gradual erosion described by "eat away".

waste away

Implies a gradual decline or decay, sharing the sense of progressive deterioration with "eat away".

FAQs

How can I use "eat away" in a sentence?

You can use "eat away" to describe the gradual erosion of something physical, like "The acid is eating away at the metal". It can also describe emotional distress, such as "Doubt can eat away at your confidence".

What's a good alternative to "eat away" when describing physical erosion?

Alternatives like "erode gradually" or "corrode slowly" can be suitable replacements for "eat away" when referring to physical processes.

Can "eat away" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "eat away" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when describing abstract concepts or processes. However, consider alternatives like "gradually diminish" for a more sophisticated tone in certain contexts.

What's the difference between "eat away" and "wear away"?

"Eat away" often suggests a more active or corrosive process, while "wear away" implies a more passive or gradual wearing down. For example, acid "eats away" metal, while time "wears away" stone.