1 C1 formal
To leave quickly, especially to escape from a place or situation.
"The pickpocket made away before anyone realized what had happened."
inseparable
make away
C1 formal inseparable intransitive
To leave quickly; to flee or escape. (Also an archaic expression for killing oneself.)
In plain English
To run away or leave quickly, especially to escape from something.
What does "make away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
(Archaic/literary) To kill oneself; to commit suicide. Used reflexively: 'make away with oneself.'
"The tragedy notes that the young nobleman had made away before dawn."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Make' (to move/go) + 'away' (at a distance, departing). Transparent in its directional sense.
Actually means
To run away or leave quickly, especially to escape from something.
Usage tip
Largely archaic or literary in modern English. In contemporary usage, 'make off' or 'get away' are far more natural. The reflexive form 'make away with oneself' is an old-fashioned euphemism for suicide and is sometimes encountered in older literary texts. ESL learners are unlikely to use this in everyday contexts.
Words that pair with "make away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
quickly suddenly before thieves suspect
How to conjugate "make away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
make away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
makes away
he/she/it
Past simple
made away
yesterday
Past participle
made away
have + pp
-ing form
making away
continuous
Hear "make away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "make away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "make away"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.