move away

USAGE SUMMARY

"move away" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it as an imperative, when you are asking someone to move from one place to another, as in: "Please move away from the door." You can also use it as a verb phrase, when you want to express that something is physically moving in a particular direction, as in: "The skater moved away from the railing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"People move away.

The New York Times - Sports

They move away fast.

Independent

Would you move away?

University of California, Berkeley

It doesn't move away.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Use caution and move away".

The New York Times

The camera will move away.

Independent

To move away.

The New York Times

Neighbors move away.

The New York Times - Books

Why not move away?

The New York Times - Magazine

Or move away.

The Guardian

The strangers move away.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "move away" in a sentence, ensure the context clearly indicates the starting point and destination, whether literal or figurative. For example, "Move away from the edge" is more specific than just "Move away".

Common error

While "move away" is versatile, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing where more precise verbs like "relocate", "withdraw", or "diverge" might be more appropriate. Overusing "move away" can make your writing seem less sophisticated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "move away" primarily functions as a phrasal verb, indicating a change in location or a shift in focus. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, from physical displacement to abstract concepts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

23%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "move away" is a versatile and frequently used expression indicating a change in location or a shift in focus. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it functions primarily as a phrasal verb and serves to instruct, describe, or suggest movement or departure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. While suitable for various contexts, overuse in formal writing should be avoided. Its prevalence in news, science, and wiki sources underscores its neutrality in register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go away

This alternative is a more general and less formal way of saying "move away".

relocate

This alternative implies a more permanent change of location.

depart

This alternative suggests a formal act of leaving.

displace

This alternative emphasizes being forced to leave.

evacuate

This alternative indicates moving away due to danger.

retreat

This alternative suggests moving back or away from an enemy or danger.

withdraw

This alternative means to remove oneself from something.

absent oneself

This alternative implies a formal or deliberate act of leaving.

step aside

This alternative implies making space for someone or something else.

clear off

This alternative is an informal way to tell someone to leave.

FAQs

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

"Move away" can be used in various contexts, such as instructing someone to physically move, as in "Move away from the edge", or describing a shift in focus or perspective, as in "move away from traditional methods".

What are some alternatives to "move away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "relocate", "depart", "withdraw", or "go away".

Is "move away from" grammatically correct?

Yes, "move away from" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction to indicate a shift or departure from something, either physically or figuratively. For example, "move away from the city" or "move away from that idea".

When should I use "move away" versus "move away from"?

Use "move away" when you simply want to indicate movement to a different location. Use "move away from" when you want to specify what is being left behind or avoided, whether it's a physical place, an idea, or a situation. For example, "They moved away" versus "They moved away from the danger".