40 Phrasal Verbs With “Away”
Phrasal verbs are an important part of everyday English.
They combine a main verb with a preposition or adverb to create expressions with meanings that are often different from the original verb.
Today, we’ll explore 40 useful phrasal verbs that use the word “away.”
1. Break away
Meaning: To escape or separate from something
Example: “The teenager tried to break away from family traditions.”
2. Carry away
Meaning: To become very emotional or excited
Example: “Don’t get carried away by the sales – stick to your budget.”
3. Cast away
Meaning: To discard or throw away
Example: “It’s time to cast away your doubts and take action.”
4. Chip away
Meaning: To gradually reduce or remove something
Example: “He’s been chipping away at his debt for years.”
5. Clear away
Meaning: To remove items from a place
Example: “Please clear away your dishes after dinner.”
6. Do away with
Meaning: To get rid of something
Example: “The company did away with the old filing system.”
7. Drift away
Meaning: To gradually move apart or lose connection
Example: “The two friends drifted away after high school.”
8. Drive away
Meaning: To force to leave or depart
Example: “The loud music drove away some of the older customers.”
9. Eat away
Meaning: To gradually destroy or consume
Example: “Worry was eating away at her peace of mind.”
10. Fade away
Meaning: To gradually disappear
Example: “The sound of the music faded away as we walked further.”
11. Fire away
Meaning: To begin asking questions or speaking
Example: “If you have questions about the project, fire away!”
12. Fritter away
Meaning: To waste time, money, or resources
Example: “He frittered away his inheritance on luxury items.”
13. Get away
Meaning: To escape or go on vacation
Example: “We’re planning to get away for the weekend.”
14. Give away
Meaning: To donate or reveal information
Example: “She gave away her old clothes to charity.”
15. Go away
Meaning: To leave or depart
Example: “The headache finally went away after I took some medicine.”
16. Hide away
Meaning: To conceal or keep secret
Example: “He hides away his feelings instead of talking about them.”
17. Keep away
Meaning: To stay at a distance
Example: “Keep away from the edge of the cliff.”
18. Lock away
Meaning: To secure something by locking it
Example: “Remember to lock away valuable items before you leave.”
19. Look away
Meaning: To turn your gaze in another direction
Example: “She looked away when the scary part of the movie started.”
20. Make away with
Meaning: To steal or take something
Example: “The thief made away with her purse.”
21. Pass away
Meaning: To die (a gentle way to express death)
Example: “Her grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep.”
22. Put away
Meaning: To store something in its proper place
Example: “Please put away your toys when you’re done playing.”
23. Run away
Meaning: To escape by running
Example: “The dog ran away when it heard the fireworks.”
24. Sail away
Meaning: To depart by boat, or figuratively escape from reality
Example: “The ship sailed away at dawn.”
25. Scare away
Meaning: To frighten someone or something so they leave
Example: “The scarecrow is supposed to scare away the birds.”
26. Send away
Meaning: To order something by mail or dismiss someone
Example: “I sent away for a free sample from the magazine ad.”
27. Slip away
Meaning: To leave quietly without being noticed
Example: “He slipped away from the party early.”
28. Spiral away
Meaning: To move or deteriorate in a downward spiral
Example: “The situation spiraled away from their control.”
29. Squirrel away
Meaning: To hide or save something for future use
Example: “She squirreled away money each month for emergencies.”
30. Stay away
Meaning: To keep a distance or not attend
Example: “If you’re sick, please stay away from work.”
31. Stow away
Meaning: To hide oneself on a vehicle to get free transportation
Example: “The teenager stowed away on the cargo ship.”
32. Sweep away
Meaning: To remove completely or forcefully
Example: “The flood swept away the old bridge.”
33. Take away
Meaning: To remove or subtract
Example: “The waiter took away our empty plates.”
34. Tear away
Meaning: To remove forcefully or with effort
Example: “She had to tear herself away from the fascinating book.”
35. Throw away
Meaning: To dispose of or discard
Example: “Don’t throw away those papers, I need them!”
36. Tuck away
Meaning: To put something in a safe or hidden place
Example: “She tucked away some money in her sock drawer.”
37. Turn away
Meaning: To reject or refuse entry
Example: “The restaurant was so busy they had to turn away customers.”
38. Wash away
Meaning: To remove by water or washing
Example: “The rain washed away the chalk drawings on the sidewalk.”
39. Wear away
Meaning: To gradually erode or diminish
Example: “The constant friction wore away the surface of the wood.”
40. While away
Meaning: To pass time in a relaxed or leisurely manner
Example: “We whiled away the afternoon playing board games.”
Why Learning Phrasal Verbs Matters
Phrasal verbs make your English sound more natural and conversational.
Native speakers use them all the time in everyday speech.
By learning these “away” phrasal verbs, you’ve added 40 useful expressions to your vocabulary!
Remember that many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on the context.
The best way to learn them is to practice using them in your own sentences and conversations.
Try to notice these phrasal verbs when you read books or articles in English, or when you watch movies and TV shows.
Over time, they’ll become a natural part of your English vocabulary.
Which of these phrasal verbs do you find most useful?
Are there any you already use regularly?
Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using these expressions like a native speaker!
