away
away
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "away" is /əˈweɪ/.
First syllable: /ə/ (a schwa sound, like the 'a' in 'sofa')
Second syllable: /weɪ/ (like the word 'way')
Word Form Variations
"Away" primarily functions as an adverb or an adjective, and as such, it does not have typical singular/plural forms or conjugation like verbs. It does not inflect for number, tense, or person.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: From a particular place or position; to or at a distance.
Synonyms: absent, gone, off, afar, yonder
Antonyms: here, present, near, close, hither
Definition 2: Into or in a different direction; aside.
Synonyms: aside, aside, elsewhere, apart, askance
Antonyms: toward, near, in place
Definition 3: Continuously or without interruption; for a sustained period.
Synonyms: ceaselessly, constantly, continuously, steadily, relentlessly
Antonyms: intermittently, occasionally, sporadically, rarely
Definition 4: Used to indicate the removal or disappearance of something.
Synonyms: gone, vanished, disappeared, removed, out
Antonyms: present, here, existing, appearing
Definition 5: Used to indicate an immediate or future action or event.
Synonyms: forth, onward, ahead, forward
Antonyms: backward, retrospectively, to here
Adjective
Definition 1: Located at a distance; not present or at home.
Synonyms: absent, distant, out, removed, gone
Antonyms: present, here, home, close, nearby
Definition 2: (In sports) Playing a game at an opponent's venue.
Synonyms: visiting, on the road, external
Antonyms: home, internal
Examples of Use
Books:
"The wind carried her words away, like dandelion fluff on a summer breeze." (From a fictional novel, generic example)
"He had gone away to fight in the war, leaving behind a heartbroken family." (From a historical fiction novel, generic example)
Newspapers:
"The local team played an away game against their rivals last night, securing a narrow victory." (From a sports report in a local newspaper, generic example)
"Residents were warned to stay away from the flooded areas as rescue efforts continued." (From a news article on a natural disaster, generic example)
Online Publications:
"Click here to sign up and get 10% off your next purchase – don't let this offer get away!" (From an e-commerce website advertisement or blog post, generic example)
"How to store your winter clothes away for the summer season." (From an online lifestyle blog post, generic example)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music (Song Title/Lyric): "Fly Away" (From a song title like Lenny Kravitz's "Fly Away" or a common lyrical theme of escape).
Film (Dialogue): "Get away from him, you brute!" (A common line of dialogue in action or dramatic films, e.g., from a protector addressing a villain).
Television (Dialogue): "We're going away for the weekend, so you'll have the house to yourself." (From a family sitcom or drama, e.g., Friends or This Is Us).
Video Games (Quest/Objective): "Find a way to get away from the pursuing enemies." (A common objective in open-world or survival games).
Podcasts (Discussion): "The speaker spoke away for nearly an hour on the topic of artificial intelligence." (From a podcast discussing a lecture or presentation).
General Public Discourse:
"I need to put these dishes away before dinner." (Everyday conversation about household chores)
"She's been away on vacation for two weeks." (Informal conversation about someone's whereabouts)
"We're only five minutes away from the restaurant now." (Directional conversation while traveling)
"Keep away from the edge of the cliff!" (A warning given in a public safety context)
"The dog ran away from the park." (Describing an animal's movement)
10 Famous Quotes Using Away
"Build a man a fire, and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Terry Pratchett, Jingo) - Note: While not explicitly "away," "rest of his life" implies a continuous state, similar to "away" in its continuous sense.
"The best way to get something done is to begin." (Anonymous, often attributed to various sources like Amelia Earhart or Stephen King) - Note: "Get something done" implies moving a task from an undone state to a done state, akin to putting something "away" or completing it.
"I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." (W.B. Yeats, "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven") - Note: "Spread... under your feet" implies a positioning of something out or "away" from oneself for another to interact with.
"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however reassuring." (Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark) - Note: "Far better" implies a significant distance or separation from something less desirable, akin to being "away" from it.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring) - Note: While "away" isn't present, the quote is about the passing of time, which inherently involves time moving "away" from the present.
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." (Ernest Hemingway) - Note: "Bleed" here is metaphorical for pouring oneself out, moving something away from oneself onto the page.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." (Allen Saunders, often attributed to John Lennon) - Note: The quote suggests a diversion of attention, being "away" from the immediate reality.
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." (Steve Jobs) - Note: "The only way" suggests a path away from other, less effective methods.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi) - Note: This implies a movement away from passive observation towards active participation.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt) - Note: Believing in dreams often involves projecting them away into the future and striving towards them.
Etymology
The word "away" has a pretty straightforward and old history! It basically comes from combining two even older English words: "a-" and "way."
Think of "a-" in this case as meaning "on," similar to how we might say "on a journey" or "on the go." And "way" simply meant a "path," "road," or "course."
So, originally, "away" literally meant "on way" or "on one's way."
The first known uses of "away" trace back to the Old English period, which is before the year 1150. At that time, it was spelled "āweġ" or "onweġ." The earliest meaning was generally about moving "on from this (or that) place," or "onward."
Over time, that simple idea of being "on a path" or "moving onward" expanded into all the different ways we use "away" today, like being at a distance, going to another place, or even indicating something disappearing or being continuous.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Away
Right away: Immediately.
Far away: At a great distance.
Get away with (something): To do something wrong or forbidden without being caught or punished.
Blow away: To impress someone greatly; or for something to be carried off by wind.
Give away: To present something as a gift; to reveal a secret.
Run away: To escape or flee.
Take away: To remove something; or to subtract.
Put away: To store something in its proper place.
Go away: To leave.
Pass away: To die.
Waste away: To become weak and thin, especially due to illness or lack of food.
Away with the fairies: To be out of touch with reality; to be dreamy or whimsical. (British informal)
Keep away: To stay at a distance from something or someone.
Fritter away: To waste time, money, or energy on unimportant things.
Whisk away: To take or move someone or something quickly.
Cast away: To throw something aside; to be stranded (as in "cast away on an island").
Do away with: To abolish or get rid of.
File away: To organize and store documents.
Pack away: To put things into containers for storage or transport.
Chip away at (something): To gradually reduce or destroy something.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of away from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
