1 B2 idiomatic neutral
to exchange something valuable for something else, often in a way that seems unwise
"The club traded away two young players for a veteran striker."
separable
trade away
B2 neutral separable transitive
to exchange something valuable and lose possession of it, often unwisely
In plain English
give something away in a deal, sometimes when you should not
What does "trade away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to give up an advantage, principle, or opportunity in return for something else
"We must not trade away our privacy for convenience."
separable
Usage tip
Common in sports, business, and figurative contexts. Often suggests regret or criticism.
Words that pair with "trade away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
players assets future rights draft picks shares
How to conjugate "trade away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
trade away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
trades away
he/she/it
Past simple
traded away
yesterday
Past participle
traded away
have + pp
-ing form
trading away
continuous
Hear "trade away" in the wild
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