went away

USAGE SUMMARY

"went away" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is a verb phrase that means to leave or to depart. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing someone's physical movement, or to indicate a change or disappearance of something. For example: - After saying goodbye to her family, she went away to college. - The storm finally passed and the dark clouds went away. - I'm sorry, the item you're looking for is sold out and won't be restocked. It's gone away. - The noise from the construction site went away after the workers finished for the day.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His footsteps went away.

The New Yorker

It also went away.

The New York Times

He went away disappointed.

The New York Times

You went away, Donal".

The New Yorker

Police!' They went away.

The New Yorker

He went away fuming.

The Guardian

Robert went away.

The New Yorker

Customers went away.

The New York Times

My mind went away.

The New York Times

"Then it went away".

The New York Times

"He never went away".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer this phrase in storytelling to describe characters leaving a scene without specifying their destination.

Common error

Avoid using "went away" in perfect tenses where the past participle "gone away" is required. For example, use "He had gone away" instead of "He had went away".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went away" acts as a phrasal verb in the past tense, combining the verb "go" (past tense "went") with the adverbial particle "away". According to Ludwig AI, it frequently functions as an intransitive verb phrase that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "went away" is a remarkably versatile and standard English phrasal verb that is universally accepted in both professional and casual writing. Analysis from Ludwig AI shows a high concentration of usage in prestigious media outlets like The New York Times and The New Yorker, particularly for describing the end of medical conditions or a person's departure. It serves as an excellent neutral choice when you want to convey that something has ceased to be present without the dramatic weight of words like "vanished". Writers should simply be careful to use the correct past participle form ("gone away") when working with perfect tenses to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left

The most common and direct synonym for physical departure

departed

More formal than the standard query and often implies a planned or significant movement

vanished

Suggests a sudden or mysterious disappearance rather than a simple exit

disappeared

Focuses on the loss of visibility or presence of an object or feeling

subsided

Specifically used when referring to physical sensations like pain or environmental conditions like storms

faded away

Indicates a gradual loss of intensity or visibility over time

cleared up

Commonly used for medical symptoms or weather improving

retreated

Implies moving back from a specific position or situation

evaporated

Metaphorical usage suggesting a feeling or situation ceased to exist entirely

withdrew

Suggests a voluntary or strategic movement away from others

FAQs

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

You can use "went away" to describe someone leaving or a sensation stopping. For example: "The sharp pain in my leg finally "went away" after a few days of rest."

What is the difference between "went away" and "left"?

While both indicate departure, "left" usually requires an object or destination, whereas "went away" can stand alone to describe the act of moving away.

Is there a more professional word for "went away" regarding medical symptoms?

Yes, in a medical or professional context, you might use "subsided" or "resolved" to describe symptoms disappearing.

When should I use "went away" vs "vanished"?

Use "went away" for standard departures and "vanished" if the disappearance was sudden, unexpected or absolute.