narrows away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrows away" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where something is gradually reducing or diminishing, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "As the path narrows away into the forest, it becomes harder to navigate."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And then when you walk right over to it, stand at the base, you twist your head back onto your sore neck to peer directly up at it, and it just narrows away into forever; the sightline making a pact with the infinite.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Elsewhere, Marseille and Toulouse remain one point behind PSG after narrow away wins.

The Guardian - Sport

But after recent narrow away wins at Sunderland, Swansea, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, this is something that they are now rather good at.

Independent

The circumstances were somewhat different: 12 miles away from the Emirates Stadium, in leafy Borehamwood, where on the approach to the game a couple of staff in Uefa branded bibs looked less than thrilled with the thankless task of bobbing into the woodland next to the narrow away terrace to hunt for balls that were smashed over in the warm-up.

The Guardian - Sport

But Speed says the win over Montenegro and a narrow away defeat by England has changed people's perceptions.

BBC

It is no coincidence that these narrow away defeats have come at a time when the Argentine's sharpness has been blunted.

BBC

Albion Rovers took a giant step towards the Scottish League Two title and promotion with a narrow away win at second-placed Queen's Park.

BBC

By 1980 the options open to Rhodesia's white minority had narrowed, whittled away by international economic sanctions, the withdrawal of unconditional South African support and the growing recognition that a deal with the guerrilla leaders was inevitable.

The New York Times

(1) The strategy presupposes that all the narrow contents of our beliefs are included in the ordinary contents of belief, so that once we have subtracted the non-narrow contents away the narrow contents will remain.

SEP

He narrows down my interests, away from wordplay, trivia, tests of mental strategy, and towards lighthearted party games.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Several narrow rows away, Zilija Dedic, 46, and her two girls used well-worn tissues to blot their tears.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "narrows away" when you want to describe something that gradually becomes smaller or less significant over a distance or time. Make sure the context provides a clear sense of gradual reduction.

Common error

While "narrows away" can be descriptive, it's not a widely used phrase. Consider using more common alternatives like "tapers off" or "becomes narrower" to ensure clarity and avoid sounding unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrows away" functions as a phrasal verb, describing a gradual decrease in width or size. As Ludwig indicates, it suggests a progressive reduction. The verb "narrows" indicates the action, and "away" emphasizes the direction of the reduction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrows away" is a phrasal verb used to describe something that gradually diminishes in width or size. While grammatically correct, it's not a very common phrase, and Ludwig suggests that alternatives like "tapers off" or "becomes narrower" might be clearer and more natural in many contexts. The phrase is found in neutral registers, particularly in news and media, and it serves a descriptive purpose. Despite its acceptability, its rarity suggests that writers should consider more common alternatives for improved clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becomes narrower

Directly describes the act of decreasing in width.

reduces in width

States explicitly that the width is decreasing.

tapers off

Emphasizes a gradual reduction in size or intensity.

diminishes

Highlights a reduction in importance or significance.

decreases gradually

Highlights the slowness of the reduction.

thins out

Suggests a decrease in density or thickness.

lessens in size

Focuses on the overall size reduction.

contracts

Focuses on the act of shrinking or drawing together.

attenuates

Emphasizes a weakening or reduction in force.

fades away

Suggests a gradual disappearance or loss of clarity.

FAQs

What does "narrows away" mean?

"Narrows away" describes something that gradually becomes smaller or less wide as it extends into the distance or over time. It suggests a progressive reduction in size.

What can I say instead of "narrows away"?

You can use alternatives like "tapers off", "becomes narrower", or "diminishes" depending on the context.

Is "narrows away" grammatically correct?

Yes, "narrows away" is grammatically acceptable, but it's not a very common phrase. Using more familiar alternatives can improve clarity.

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

For example, "As the path "narrows away" into the forest, it becomes harder to navigate." This shows a gradual reduction in the path's width.