move away

leave your home to go and live in another place

B1

What does "move away" mean?

To move away means to leave the place where you live and go to live in a different area — a different city, region, or even country. It suggests a long-term or permanent change, not just a short trip or holiday. People often move away for reasons like work, study, family, or simply wanting a fresh start somewhere new. The feeling of someone moving away is often connected to nostalgia or missing people, which is why it comes up a lot in personal stories and conversations about life changes. You can add 'from' to say where the person left, or 'to' to say where they went, but both are optional if the context is already clear.

Examples

How to use it

subject + move away

The most basic pattern — no object is needed because this phrasal verb is intransitive.

She moved away years ago and we lost touch.

move away from + place

Use 'from' to specify the area or region the person is leaving.

He moved away from his hometown after finishing university.

move away to + place

Use 'to' to say where the person went to live after leaving.

My cousin moved away to Canada and loves it there.

move away for + reason

Use 'for' to give the reason for relocating, such as work or study.

They moved away for work and ended up staying permanently.

plan / decide / want to move away

Common verbs like 'plan', 'decide', and 'want' often come before 'move away' when talking about future intentions or past decisions.

We've always wanted to move away from the city but never found the right moment.

Common Collocations

move away from homemove away for workmove away from the citymove away as a childmove away to another countrymove away permanently

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'move away' with 'move out'

'Move out' means leaving a specific home or flat, while 'move away' means leaving an entire area to live somewhere else. You can move out of your flat and still stay in the same city.

✗ He moved away from his flat last month and got a new one nearby.
✓ He moved out of his flat last month and got a new one nearby.
Using it for short or temporary absences

'Move away' implies a long-term or permanent relocation, not a short trip or temporary stay. Use it only when someone is actually going to live somewhere else.

✗ She moved away to Paris for the weekend.
✓ She moved away to Paris after getting a job offer there.
Inserting an object between 'move' and 'away'

This phrasal verb is intransitive, so nothing can be placed between 'move' and 'away'. It does not take a direct object in this sense.

✗ They moved themselves away to a quieter town.
✓ They moved away to a quieter town.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It describes long-term or permanent relocation to a different area, not a short trip or temporary absence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'move away' always need 'from' or 'to'?

No, both are optional. If it's already clear from context where someone lived or where they went, you can simply say 'she moved away' without adding extra details. Including 'from' or 'to' just gives more specific information.

Can 'move away' describe physical movement, like stepping back from something?

Yes, 'move away' can also describe physical movement in space, like stepping back from a crowd or a fire. However, this sense is quite different — the residential sense involves relocating to a new place to live, and it usually comes with time expressions or location phrases like 'last year' or 'from the city'.

Does 'move away' suggest the move is permanent?

It usually implies a long-term or permanent change of where you live, not a temporary arrangement. If you want to make clear the move is only for a short time, it helps to add a time phrase like 'temporarily' or 'for six months', since the default feeling of 'move away' is that you are making a real life change.

What kinds of reasons do people give for moving away?

Very common reasons include work, a new job, study, family, or wanting a change of lifestyle. In sentences, these follow 'move away for', for example: 'She moved away for a job opportunity' or 'They moved away for school'. You can also use 'to' with a verb: 'They moved away to be closer to their parents'.

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