aweigh

American

[uh-wey] / əˈweɪ /

adjective

Nautical.

(of an anchor) just free of the bottom; atrip.

Anchors aweigh!

aweigh British

/ əˈweɪ /

adjective

(postpositive) nautical (of an anchor) no longer hooked into the bottom; hanging by its rode

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of aweigh

First recorded in 1620–30; a- ¹ + weigh ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After decades with the corps expending too much energy ashore, for tomorrow’s Marines, like yesterday’s, it is anchors aweigh.

From Washington Post

There’s a worthy model for us all on this unpredictable voyage — anchors aweigh!

From Washington Post

His final words for the graduates: “Anchors aweigh!”

From New York Times

The anchor is then aweigh, and the ship is able to move on.

From Washington Post

After acquiring a family he quit, though five minutes into the movie it is clear anchors will soon be aweigh yet again.

From Time

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023