Definition of away

Short definition: The word away means at a distance from a place, not here, or moving elsewhere. People use it to talk about leaving, being absent, traveling, or removing something from where it was before.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word away? The word away is commonly used when we talk about distance, absence, movement from one place to another, or being separated from something or someone. It can describe physical distance, emotional space, or even time spent somewhere else. In everyday life, away often appears in simple conversations about travel, work, relationships, and daily routines. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed and real-life way, with long examples that sound natural in everyday situations.

Form: away (adverb)
Related: away from prep. phrase
Syllable: a-way

1. At a distance from a place, person, or point.
   The beach is only a few minutes away from the hotel, so guests can easily walk there every morning to enjoy the sunrise.
   Even though his family lives far away, he still feels close to them through regular calls and messages.
   The restaurant is just two blocks away, making it a perfect place for a quick lunch during busy workdays.

   Synonyms: distant, far off, not nearby, at a distance, removed, separated, far away, out of reach, off, remote, far from here, at a remove
   Antonyms: near, close, nearby, next to, beside, within reach, at hand, close by, adjacent, right here, within distance, at the side

2. Not present in a place; absent for a period of time.
   The manager is away on a business trip this week, so the team is handling decisions together in the meantime.
   She felt lonely when her parents were away, even though she knew they would return soon.
   He will be away from the office tomorrow, but he promised to reply to urgent messages in the evening.

   Synonyms: absent, not around, gone, out, unavailable, off duty, away from work, not present, missing, on leave, elsewhere, out of town
   Antonyms: present, here, around, available, in, on duty, attending, nearby, on site, in place, at work, staying

3. Moving from one place to another; leaving a location.
   She waved goodbye as the train slowly moved away, watching until it disappeared from sight.
   The children ran away from the rain, laughing as they rushed back inside the house.
   He stepped away from the crowd, hoping to find a quiet moment to think clearly.

   Synonyms: off, onward, out, aside, away from here, onward from, leaving, departing, moving off, stepping back, retreating, pulling away
   Antonyms: toward, closer, approaching, coming near, moving in, advancing, heading to, stepping forward, drawing near, going closer, closing in, returning

4. Stored, saved, or kept in a safe or separate place.
   She put her important documents away so they wouldn’t get lost or damaged.
   After dinner, the children helped put the toys away, learning the habit of keeping their room neat.
   He carefully locked the old photos away, wanting to protect those memories for the future.

   Synonyms: stored, kept, put aside, set aside, packed away, tucked away, saved, hidden, secured, placed safely, filed, shelved
   Antonyms: out, displayed, left out, exposed, unpacked, scattered, laid out, revealed, shown, uncovered, on display, left open

5. Emotionally or mentally distant from others or a situation.
   After the argument, he seemed emotionally away, even though he was sitting right next to her.
   She felt away from her friends for a while, needing time alone to understand her feelings.
   Sometimes people drift away not because they stop caring, but because life pulls them in different directions.

   Synonyms: distant, detached, withdrawn, emotionally removed, disconnected, reserved, closed off, withdrawn inside, isolated, reserved emotionally, out of touch, remote in feeling
   Antonyms: close, connected, emotionally present, open, engaged, warm, involved, caring, attached, responsive, in touch, approachable