get away

British  

verb

1. to make an escape; leave

2. to make a start

3. 1. to steal and escape (with money, goods, etc)

   2. to do (something wrong, illegal, etc) without being discovered or punished or with only a minor punishment

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interjection

1. an exclamation indicating mild disbelief

noun

1. the act of escaping, esp by criminals

2. a start or acceleration

3. (modifier) used for escaping

   a getaway car

get away Idioms  

1. Break free, escape, as in The suspect ran down the street and got away , or I wanted to come but couldn't get away from the office . [c. 1300] A variant is get away from it all , meaning “to depart and leave one's surroundings or problems or work behind.” For example, Joe is taking a few days off—he needs to get away from it all .

2. Start out or leave quickly, as in The greyhounds got away from the starting gate , or I thought I had the answer but it got away from me .

3. Go, move off. For example, Get away from my desk! or Get away—I don't want you near that hot stove . [Late 1700s] Also see get away with .

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Example Sentences

“We’ve got to completely course correct and get away from that.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Even when you win the race, you don't get away from the cobbles.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Her drive for success and wealth comes from “wanting to get away from that life and what I saw around me,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

In many of the previous cases, there were claims that the BBC had allowed its talent to get away with bad behaviour.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

He jerked at the chain and tried to get loose, not to get away from the dogs but to get at them—I mean, it was complete insanity.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• advance
• blow
• carry
• change
• climb
• cross
• drift
• drive
• flow
• fly
• go
• jump
• leave
• migrate
• proceed
• progress
• propel
• push
• relocate
• remove