1 A2 neutral
To tidy something by placing it in its proper place.
"Please put your toys away before dinner."
separable
put away
A2 neutral separable transitive
To return something to its proper storage place; also to eat or drink large amounts, send someone to prison, or save money.
In plain English
To put things back where they belong, or to eat a lot, or to send someone to jail.
What does "put away" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
(informal) To send someone to prison or a mental institution.
"The judge put him away for fifteen years for his crimes."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal
(informal) To eat or drink a large amount.
"I don't know how she does it — she can put away three portions and still want dessert."
separable
4 B1 neutral
To save money over time.
"He had put away enough money over the years to retire comfortably."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To place something into storage, out of sight.
Actually means
To put things back where they belong, or to eat a lot, or to send someone to jail.
Usage tip
The tidying sense is the most common and appropriate at A2 level. 'Put away' meaning to imprison is colloquial British/American English. Meaning to consume large amounts of food/drink is informal. Saving money is similar to 'put aside.'
Words that pair with "put away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
toys clothes money food criminal groceries
How to conjugate "put away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
put away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts away
he/she/it
Past simple
put away
yesterday
Past participle
put away
have + pp
-ing form
putting away
continuous
Hear "put away" in the wild
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