1 B1 neutral
To physically remove layers or coverings from a surface.
"Workers stripped away the old wallpaper to reveal the original brickwork."
separable
strip away
B2 neutral separable transitive
To remove layers, coverings, or non-essential elements to expose what is underneath or essential.
In plain English
To peel off or remove the outside of something to see what is really inside or underneath.
What does "strip away" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To remove everything non-essential in order to reveal the true nature of something.
"Strip away all the technical jargon and the argument is actually very simple."
separable
3 C1 idiomatic formal
To remove rights, powers, or qualities from a person or institution.
"The new laws stripped away many of the protections that workers had fought for."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To strip (remove) a layer by pulling it away from the surface.
Actually means
To peel off or remove the outside of something to see what is really inside or underneath.
Usage tip
Used literally for removing physical layers and figuratively for removing false pretenses, complexity, or superficial elements to reveal the truth. Common in journalistic, literary, and philosophical contexts.
Words that pair with "strip away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
layers pretense complexity facade rights bark meaning
How to conjugate "strip away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
strip away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
strips away
he/she/it
Past simple
striped away
yesterday
Past participle
striped away
have + pp
-ing form
striping away
continuous
Hear "strip away" in the wild
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Other ways to say "strip away"
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