we went away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we went away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of leaving a place, often for a trip or vacation. Example: "After a long week of work, we went away for the weekend to relax by the beach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We went away.

The New Yorker

If we went away, would the guerrillas feed them?

The Economist

"Last year we went away for two days," he said.

The New York Times

"When we went away to school, we didn't know what to expect.

The New York Times - Magazine

There was a time when we went away to get away.

Independent

"I had these friends who had driver's licenses, and we went away on a car trip.

The New Yorker

"Last year we went away for two days," Mr. Keosky said.

The New York Times

We met up in Dubai and wrote it, then we went away to execute it.

The Guardian

"We went away from the Oct. 9 meeting feeling that we are facing the music.

The New York Times - Arts

"But we got close when we went away together over Christmas.

The New York Times

We went away on vacations twice a year and to bed-and-breakfasts once a month".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we went away" when you want to describe a temporary departure, often for leisure or a specific purpose. It implies a return is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "we go away" when referring to a past event. "We went away" is the correct past tense form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we went away" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of leaving a place. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and very commonly used in English. The examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from vacations to temporary absences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we went away" is a correct and very commonly used phrase in English to describe a departure, often temporary, from a location. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Analysis of its usage across numerous examples reveals that it is most frequently found in News & Media sources. When aiming for a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "we departed". It's crucial to use the past tense "we went away" rather than the incorrect "we go away" when referring to past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we left

A simple and direct way of saying we departed.

we departed

A more formal synonym for leaving.

we went on holiday

Synonymous, commonly used in British English.

we took off

An informal way of saying we left quickly.

we took a trip

Emphasizes the act of going on a journey.

we embarked

Implies starting a journey or adventure.

we travelled

A general term for going on a trip.

we absented ourselves

A formal and somewhat archaic way to express departure.

we vacationed

Specifically refers to leaving for a vacation.

we escaped

Implies leaving to get away from something unpleasant.

FAQs

What's the difference between "we went away" and "we left"?

"We left" is a general term for departing a place. "We went away" often implies a planned or temporary absence, sometimes for a vacation or specific event.

What can I say instead of "we went away" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use "we departed" or "we absented ourselves", depending on the context.

How do I use "we went away" in a sentence?

"We went away" is typically followed by a prepositional phrase specifying the duration, location, or purpose of the departure, such as "we went away for the weekend" or "we went away to the beach".

Is "we gone away" grammatically correct?

No, "we gone away" is not grammatically correct. The correct past tense is "we went away".