away
away Lexical Profile
away Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
To or at a distance from a particular place, person, or thing.
"She stepped away from the podium after finishing her speech."
Into an appropriate place for storage or safekeeping.
"Please put your textbooks away before the examination begins."
Out of existence; so as to disappear, diminish, or be completely consumed.
"The sound of the train slowly faded away into the quiet night."
Constantly, persistently, or continuously in a steady action.
"The researchers worked away in the laboratory throughout the weekend."
• adjective
Absent from one's usual place, home, or workplace; located at a distance.
"The department director is away at a conference until next Tuesday."
Played at an opponent's venue or ground rather than on a team's own field.
"The soccer team won three consecutive away matches during the tournament."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing absence from a home or office (e.g., 'the manager is away'), 'away' functions strictly as a predicate adjective and cannot be placed before a noun. Its attributive use before a noun is restricted to sports contexts, such as an 'away game' or 'away jersey'.
• Rhymes for away
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English aweg, a contraction of the phrase on weg, literally meaning 'on one's way' or 'on the road'.