To abolish, eliminate, or get rid of something permanently; informally, to kill someone.
To completely remove or stop something so it no longer exists.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To completely abolish or eliminate a law, rule, practice, or institution.
"Many campaigners are calling for the government to do away with the tax on basic food items."
We did away with the old ways of doing things.
— Widely attributed paraphrase from Barack Obama's political speeches on reform, 2008
To kill someone. (Informal, dated)
"In the old detective novels, the villain always tries to do away with anyone who knows the truth."
To stop using or needing something.
"Digital ticketing has done away with the need to queue at the box office."
To send something away so completely that it is gone.
To completely remove or stop something so it no longer exists.
Common in formal and informal contexts. Often used in political or social discussions to describe abolishing laws, rules, or traditions. The meaning 'to kill' is informal and somewhat dated, more common in older fiction and detective stories.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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