Go away Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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go away

[ɡoʊ əˈweɪ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Phrasal verb

departure

To leave a place, especially in order to go somewhere else.

Synonyms

depart, leave, move on.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
go away

Used informally when you want someone to leave a place quickly or abruptly. Often has a negative or dismissive tone.

  • "Please go away and let me work in peace."
  • "He was so annoying that I told him to go away."
leave

General term used in everyday situations to indicate someone is exiting or moving away from a place, event, or activity.

  • "I have to leave early to catch my flight."
  • "Is it okay if I leave the party now?"
depart

More formal and typically used in contexts such as travel, official announcements, or planned events.

  • "The train will depart from platform 5 in ten minutes."
  • "We were sad to see her depart for her new job abroad."
move on

Used when indicating a transition to a new phase or topic in life or conversation. Often implies making progress or letting go of something.

  • "It's time to move on from the past and focus on the future."
  • "After discussing the budget, let's move on to the next agenda item."

Examples of usage

  • He told her to go away and leave him alone.
  • They decided to go away for the weekend.
Context #2 | Phrasal verb

dismissal

To dismiss someone or something as irritating, irrelevant, or unimportant.

Synonyms

brush off, disregard, ignore.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
go away

Use this phrase to ask someone to leave a place or stop bothering you. It can be direct and may come off as rude depending on the tone.

  • Can you please go away? I'm trying to concentrate.
  • The stray dog wouldn't go away, no matter how much we shooed it.
ignore

This word implies purposely not paying attention to someone or something. It can be neutral but often has a negative connotation depending on the situation.

  • He decided to ignore her messages after their argument.
  • People should not ignore the importance of mental health.
disregard

Use this term to describe the act of choosing not to consider or pay attention to something or someone. It is more formal and neutral.

  • The company chose to disregard the negative reviews and pushed on with the product launch.
  • Disregard the rumors; they are not based on any factual information.
brush off

This phrase is used when someone dismisses or refuses to acknowledge a person or their concerns, often casually or dismissively.

  • She tried to talk to him about her worries, but he just brushed her off.
  • He brushed off the criticism and continued with his plan.

Examples of usage

  • I wish he would just go away and stop bothering us.
  • She tried to go away the negative thoughts from her mind.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural Practices

  • In many cultures, telling someone to 'go away' can be seen as rude or negative, but in others, it's a way to maintain personal space.
  • In children's games like tag, players often say 'go away' as part of the fun to avoid being caught.

Psychology

  • 'Go away' can indicate a need for personal space, showing it's normal to want some time alone.
  • Using the phrase too often might affect relationships, as it can make others feel rejected or unwanted.

Literature

  • The phrase appears in various stories to depict conflict or desire for solitude, often highlighting character emotions.
  • In poetry, 'go away' might symbolize the need to escape from pain or unwanted memories.

Pop Culture

  • Movies often use 'go away' in scenes where a character wants to be left alone, emphasizing their emotional state.
  • Memorable lines from songs also express the sentiment of wanting someone to leave, representing various life scenarios.

Origin of 'go away'

Main points about word origin

  • The phrase combines 'go' (to move from one place to another) and 'away' (indicating distance).
  • The word 'go' traces back to Old English 'gan,' meaning to walk, while 'away' comes from the Middle English 'awa,' meaning 'out of the way.'

The origin of the phrase 'go away' can be traced back to Old English, where 'go' meant 'to walk or proceed'. Over time, the addition of 'away' emphasized the notion of leaving a particular place. The expression has since evolved to encompass both physical departure and dismissal in a figurative sense.