What does "eat away at" mean (sense 1)?

To gradually destroy or erode something physical through continuous chemical or natural action. Example: "Salt water was eating away at the iron hull of the old ship."

What does "eat away at" mean (sense 2)?

To cause persistent emotional distress or anxiety in someone, often without an obvious outward sign. Example: "The lie had been eating away at him for months, and he finally decided to confess."

What does "eat away at" mean (sense 3)?

To slowly diminish or deplete a resource, amount, or quality. Example: "High inflation was eating away at people's purchasing power throughout the decade."

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eat away at

B2 neutral inseparable transitive

To gradually damage, reduce, or emotionally trouble something or someone.

In plain English

To slowly hurt, damage, or worry someone or something, little by little.

What does "eat away at" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B2 neutral

common

To gradually destroy or erode something physical through continuous chemical or natural action.

"Salt water was eating away at the iron hull of the old ship."

inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

very common

To cause persistent emotional distress or anxiety in someone, often without an obvious outward sign.

"The lie had been eating away at him for months, and he finally decided to confess."

“

The guilt and the shame were eating away at me.
— Oprah Winfrey, interview discussing personal struggles (widely reported, various sources)

inseparable

3 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To slowly diminish or deplete a resource, amount, or quality.

"High inflation was eating away at people's purchasing power throughout the decade."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To eat at something continuously until it is worn down or consumed.

Actually means

To slowly hurt, damage, or worry someone or something, little by little.

Usage tip

Commonly used in both physical and emotional/psychological contexts. The emotional use ('guilt was eating away at her') is extremely frequent in literature and everyday speech. The preposition 'at' is obligatory in this form.

Words that pair with "eat away at"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

confidence guilt conscience foundation metal savings

How to conjugate "eat away at"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

eat away at

I/you/we/they

3rd person

eats away at

he/she/it

Past simple

ate away at

yesterday

Past participle

eaten away at

have + pp

-ing form

eating away at

continuous

Hear "eat away at" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "eat away at" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "eat" All phrasal verbs with "away" More B2-level phrasal verbs