make away with

B2 neutral inseparable transitive

In simple words

To take something that doesn't belong to you and run away with it — basically to steal and escape.

Literal meaning: 'Make away' (to flee) + 'with' (in possession of something). The combined meaning of fleeing while taking something is fairly transparent.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

common

To steal something and escape with it successfully.

"The burglars made away with jewelry worth over fifty thousand pounds."

Grammar: inseparable

2 C1 idiomatic formal

rare

(Formal/archaic) To kill a person; to do away with someone.

"The villain had made away with the witness before the trial could begin."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

The 'theft' sense is the most commonly encountered in modern English and appears frequently in news writing and storytelling. The 'kill/destroy' sense is archaic and mainly found in older literature. Note the important difference from 'get away with,' which is about escaping consequences rather than stealing.

Commonly used with

jewels cash valuables documents evidence the loot

Forms

Base

make away with

I/you/we/they

3rd person

makes away with

he/she/it

Past simple

made away with

yesterday

Past participle

made away with

have + pp

-ing form

making away with

continuous

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Synonyms

steal run off with abscond with take off with filch purloin

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