1 A2 neutral
To physically leave a place or person by walking.
"He said nothing and simply walked away without looking back."
inseparable
walk away
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To leave a person, place, or situation, especially to disengage from something difficult or unpleasant.
In plain English
To leave a place or situation — especially when something is difficult and you choose not to deal with it anymore.
What does "walk away" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To choose to disengage from a relationship, deal, or situation, especially a difficult one.
"Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away from something that isn't working."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To survive an accident or dangerous event without serious injury.
"Remarkably, all three passengers walked away from the crash without a scratch."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To walk in a direction away from something — transparent, with a figurative extension.
Actually means
To leave a place or situation — especially when something is difficult and you choose not to deal with it anymore.
Usage tip
Used both literally (to physically walk away) and figuratively (to disengage from a relationship, deal, or conflict). The figurative sense implies choice and often a degree of indifference or resolve. Very common in both everyday speech and journalistic language.
Words that pair with "walk away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
deal relationship situation argument wreckage winner
How to conjugate "walk away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
walk away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
walks away
he/she/it
Past simple
walked away
yesterday
Past participle
walked away
have + pp
-ing form
walking away
continuous
Hear "walk away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "walk away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "walk away"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
depart disengage leave quit step away turn one's back
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.