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Definition of away adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

away

adverb
 
/əˈweɪ/
 
/əˈweɪ/
For the special uses of away in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example get away with something is in the phrasal verb section at get.Idioms
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  1. to or at a distance from somebody/something in space or time
    • The beach is a mile away.
    • Christmas is still months away.
    • away from somebody/something The president was kept well away from the demonstrators.
    • The station is a few minutes' walk away from here.
    • The main landfill site was moved further away from the city.
  2. to a different place or in a different direction
    • Go away!
    • Put your toys away.
    • The bright light made her look away.
  3. not present synonym absent
    • There were ten children away yesterday.
    • Sorry, he's away.
    • away from somebody/something She was away from work for a week.
  4. used after verbs to say that something is done continuously or with a lot of energy
    • She was still writing away furiously when the bell went.
    • They were soon chatting away like old friends.
  5. until disappearing completely
    • The water boiled away.
    • The music faded away.
  6. (sport) at the opponent’s ground or stadium
    • Chelsea are playing away this Saturday.
    compare homeTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsb2
  7. Word OriginOld English onweg, aweg ‘on one's way’ (from a- ‘to, towards’ and way).
Idioms
away with…
  1. (literary) used to say that you would like to be rid of somebody/something
    • Away with all these rules and regulations!
blow/clear the cobwebs away
  1. to help somebody have a fresh, lively state of mind again
    • A brisk walk should blow the cobwebs away.
dance the night away
  1. to dance for the whole evening or night
far and away
  1. (followed by comparative or superlative adjectives) by a very great amount
    • She's far and away the best player.
right away/off
  1. immediately; without delay
    • I want it sent right away.
    • I told him right off what I thought of him.
straight away
  1. immediately; without delay synonym at once
    • I'll do it straight away.
See away in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee away in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sunflower
noun
 
 
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B2
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