1 C1 neutral
In sailing, to steer so that the sails fill with wind, allowing the boat to pick up speed and move forward.
"After tacking through the headland, the crew filled away and set a course for the open sea."
inseparable
fill away
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In sailing, to let the sails fill with wind and allow the vessel to gain speed, often after being held up or close to the wind.
In plain English
To let the wind into the sails and get the boat moving.
What does "fill away" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill the sails and sail away.
Actually means
To let the wind into the sails and get the boat moving.
Usage tip
A nautical term used by sailors. Not commonly encountered outside sailing or maritime literature. May also appear in older texts describing ships setting off under full sail.
Words that pair with "fill away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sails vessel ship breeze wind course
How to conjugate "fill away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fill away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fills away
he/she/it
Past simple
filled away
yesterday
Past participle
filled away
have + pp
-ing form
filling away
continuous
Hear "fill away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fill away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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