1 A2 neutral
To slowly dissolve or disappear as a result of heat.
"The last patches of snow melted away by the end of March."
inseparable
melt away
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To gradually disappear or dissolve, either literally (like ice or snow) or figuratively (like stress or a crowd).
In plain English
Slowly go away and disappear completely — like snow in the sun, or your worries after a holiday.
What does "melt away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To gradually disappear or go away — used of feelings, tension, crowds, or problems.
"After a long walk on the beach, all her anxiety simply melted away."
“
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you... let it melt away.
— Common paraphrase of biblical imagery; related to Ephesians 4:31, widely used in sermons and motivational speaking
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For something solid to melt and disappear — liquid seeping away. Transparent in its literal sense.
Actually means
Slowly go away and disappear completely — like snow in the sun, or your worries after a holiday.
Usage tip
Used both literally (physical melting) and figuratively (feelings, crowds, fears disappearing). The figurative use is very common and poetic. Often has a positive connotation when used about negative feelings. Also used about crowds dispersing.
Words that pair with "melt away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stress tension fears crowd snow fat
How to conjugate "melt away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
melt away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
melts away
he/she/it
Past simple
melted away
yesterday
Past participle
melted away
have + pp
-ing form
melting away
continuous
Hear "melt away" in the wild
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Other ways to say "melt away"
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