1 B1 neutral
To give something to another person, especially freely or without keeping it.
"She handed away all her old books to the school library."
separable
hand away
B1 neutral separable transitive
To give something to someone else, often permanently or freely.
In plain English
To give something to another person and not keep it.
What does "hand away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To transfer ownership or control of something to someone else.
"The retiring director handed away his responsibilities to the new manager."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use your hand to move something away from yourself.
Actually means
To give something to another person and not keep it.
Usage tip
Rarely used in standard British or American English; 'give away' or 'hand out' are strongly preferred. May appear in some regional dialects. Learners should use alternatives.
Words that pair with "hand away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
prize ticket belongings possession copy
How to conjugate "hand away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hand away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hands away
he/she/it
Past simple
handed away
yesterday
Past participle
handed away
have + pp
-ing form
handing away
continuous
Hear "hand away" in the wild
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Other ways to say "hand away"
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