1 B1 neutral
To remove a part of something by cutting it off.
"She cut away the damaged section of the fabric before sewing the patch in."
separable
cut away
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To remove something by cutting it; or in film/TV, to switch suddenly to a different shot or scene.
In plain English
To cut a piece off something to remove it, or (in TV/film) to suddenly show a different scene.
What does "cut away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
In film, television, or broadcasting, to switch abruptly to a different image or scene.
"The director cut away to a close-up of the crowd just as the singer hit the final note."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut something so that it falls or moves away from the main object.
Actually means
To cut a piece off something to remove it, or (in TV/film) to suddenly show a different scene.
Usage tip
The film/TV sense ('cutaway') is common in media studies and journalism. In the literal sense, it's used in gardening, surgery, and construction. 'Cutaway' as a noun/adjective (e.g., cutaway shot) is standard in media production.
Words that pair with "cut away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
branch fat dead wood scene shot excess
How to conjugate "cut away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cut away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts away
he/she/it
Past simple
cut away
yesterday
Past participle
cut away
have + pp
-ing form
cutting away
continuous
Hear "cut away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cut away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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