Away Meaning
Away Definition & Usage
At a distance from the current location; in or to a different place.
Examples
- "She lives far away in the countryside."
- "I left my keys at home, so I had to go back to get them."
- "He moved away to start a new job."
- "Please stay away from the edge of the cliff."
- "The kids ran away as soon as they saw the dog."
In the past or in a future point in time, often denoting a change in condition or state.
Examples
- "Her birthday is still weeks away."
- "The concert is just a few days away."
- "We were away for the weekend and missed the meeting."
- "He went away for the summer break."
- "It’s a long way away from here."
Gone, removed, or no longer present.
Examples
- "He went away for good after the argument."
- "The dog ran away yesterday."
- "Her smile went away as soon as the news was delivered."
- "I can’t believe my favorite show is going away."
- "The pain eventually went away after I took the medicine."
In motion; in the process of being removed or displaced.
Examples
- "The train is away now; it left the station."
- "I’m away from the desk right now, but I’ll be back soon."
- "Her attention was away from the task at hand."
- "I could hear the car speeding away down the road."
- "The clock ticks away the minutes, and I’m still stuck here."
Cultural Context
The word 'away' comes from Old English, where it originally meant 'off' or 'from.' It has developed a variety of meanings depending on context, often relating to distance, absence, or movement.
The Long Road Away
Story
The Long Road Away
It was a crisp autumn morning when Jason decided it was time to leave. He had been thinking about it for months – packing up, moving away, starting fresh. As he stood outside his small apartment, the suitcase at his feet, he couldn’t help but glance back at the familiar street. The old bakery where he used to grab his coffee every morning, the park bench where he’d sit and read for hours. All of it was about to be left behind. 'Are you sure about this?' asked Lisa, his sister. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression full of concern. 'I mean, I know you’re tired of the city, but do you really want to be so far away?' Jason smiled softly. 'It’s not that I don’t love the city. It’s just that it feels like I’ve been stuck here for too long. I need to be away for a while. Maybe something good will come of it.' Lisa sighed and stepped forward to give him a hug. 'Well, I hope you find what you’re looking for. Just don’t forget to call me once you’re away from here.' Jason chuckled. 'You’ll be the first to know.' As he drove away from the city, the skyline shrinking in the rearview mirror, he felt a strange mix of emotions. Excitement. Fear. A bit of sadness, too. The road ahead seemed endless, and the small town he was heading to felt like a world away. Days turned into weeks, and Jason found himself adjusting to his new life. He had made new friends, discovered quiet spots for coffee, and even started painting again – something he hadn’t done in years. But still, every now and then, when he walked through the streets of the small town, he’d think of home, of the place he once called his own. One evening, while sitting on the porch of his new place, he received a call from Lisa. 'How’s it going, Jason?' she asked. 'Is everything still away from the life you knew?' He smiled, knowing that, in a way, she was right. He had stepped away from everything familiar, but somehow, it had brought him closer to understanding who he was meant to be. In the end, it wasn’t just the physical distance that had made him feel 'away' – it was the emotional and mental space he had needed to grow and change.
