away from
away from: at a distance from, or moving so the distance becomes greater.
- Away from can describe position (farther from something) or movement (move farther from it).
- It is common in safety warnings: keep away from the edge / stay away from fire.
- Far from often sounds more static. Away from often feels more active or directional.
Scene category
Controls
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Examples
Spatial examples
Please sit away from the door if you need quiet.
The house stands away from the main road.
Dynamic examples
Step away from the platform edge.
She backed away from the hot pan.
The crowd moved away from the stage after the show.
Related prepositions
Key differences
Away from combines distance and separation. Learners often compare it with far from (static distance) and off (moving off a surface or contact point).
Far from emphasizes long distance. Away from often adds the idea of moving or keeping clear.
Off often means leaving a surface or contact point. Away from is more general and can describe stepping back or keeping clear.
Quick check questions (decision tree)
Is there clear motion or a path (walk/run/fly/roll/climb)?
Yes -> consider away from; if it's static position only, use a spatial preposition.
What is the path relation: through, across, along, toward, into, onto?
If it is not this page's relation, switch to a closer option like far from or off.
Is the sentence about reaching an endpoint (enter/land/arrive)?
Yes -> an endpoint preposition (into/onto/to) may fit better; No -> choose by the path itself.
Common collocations
Safety and warning phrases
Everyday distance phrases
Useful sentence frames
Common mistakes
Avoid: Keep the candles far from the table edge right now.
Use: Keep the candles away from the table edge right now.
Reason: This is a safety instruction about keeping clear, so away from sounds more natural than far from.
Avoid: She moved off the stranger.
Use: She moved away from the stranger.
Reason: Off usually needs a surface/contact idea. Away from is better for moving farther from a person.
Avoid: The house is away from very much from town.
Use: The house is far from town. / The house is away from the main road.
Reason: Far from is better for neutral long distance. Away from usually needs a clearer separation context.
Mini quiz
Question 1
Please step ___ the edge.
Choose an answer
Question 2
The village is ___ the city center.
Choose an answer
Question 3
Keep the laptop ___ direct sunlight.
Choose an answer
Quick FAQ
What is the core meaning of away from?+
It shows distance or increasing distance from something.
Can away from describe both position and movement?+
Yes. A thing can be away from something, and it can also move away from it.
Why is away from common in warnings?+
Because warnings often tell you to keep clear of danger, heat, edges, traffic, or chemicals.
What is the difference between away from and far from?+
Far from is more static and measures distance. Away from often adds direction, separation, or avoidance.
What is the difference between away from and off?+
Off often involves leaving a surface or contact point. Away from is broader and works for people, places, edges, and hazards.