takeaway

Or take-a·way

[teyk-uh-wey]

noun

1. something taken back or away, especially an employee benefit that is eliminated or substantially reduced by the terms of a union contract.

2. conclusions, impressions, or action points resulting from a meeting, discussion, roundtable, or the like.

   The takeaway was that we had to do a lot more work on the proposal before it could be shown to the governing board.

3. Chiefly British.

   1. a takeout restaurant.

      Let's pick something up at the Indian takeaway.

   2. food from a takeout restaurant.

      I get Chinese takeaway at least once a week.

4. Sports.

   1. (in hockey and football) the act of getting the puck or ball away from the team on the offense.

      The problem with most hockey statistics is they are not very consistent in how they determine takeaways and giveaways.

   2. (in golf) a backswing.

      I got him a video entitled “Improving the Takeaway in Your Golf Swing” for his birthday.

adjective

1. of or relating to what is or can be taken away.

   a list of takeaway proposals presented by management.

2. Chiefly British.,  takeout.

Word History and Origins

Origin of takeaway¹

1930–35 for earlier sense “train car for carrying logs”; 1960–65 takeaway for def. 5; take + away

Example Sentences

Of all the things I’ve talked and written about over my decades of cooking in test kitchens and restaurant kitchens, that was Alan’s takeaway?

Read more on Wall Street Journal

What is your takeaway from the Fed’s September meeting minutes?

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Here are our main takeaways from her documentary.

Read more on BBC

The main takeaway was that the show, for me, really became more about the people that I met than the product itself.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Here are our main takeaways from his interview.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• outcome 
• result 
• upshot 

When To Use

What does takeaway mean?

Takeaway is popularly used to mean the main thing you’ve learned, will remember, or need to take action on after having been presented with information, such as during a meeting or in a report.Take away is a common phrasal verb that’s used in a lot of contexts, and takeaway as a noun has a lot of different meanings. It’s sometimes spelled take-away.In the U.K., takeaway is the word for what Americans call takeout—food picked up from a restaurant to eat elsewhere, typically at home. It can also refer to the restaurant where you get it.In hockey and American football, a takeaway happens when the puck or ball is somehow taken away from the opposing team.Example: The biggest takeaway from the intern meeting was to not post pictures or videos on social media that could reflect badly on the company.