take away
2 meanings
remove someone or something from a place
What does "take away" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The waiter took away our plates as soon as we finished eating.
- Her parents took her phone away for a week as a punishment.
- His passport was taken away by the authorities at the border.
How to use it
The most common pattern, used when removing a physical object or something abstract from a person or place.
The nurse took away the empty cups and brought us some fresh water.
The object can be placed between the verb and particle, especially with short noun phrases. This is very natural and common.
Her teacher took the notebook away until the end of the lesson.
When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between the verb and the particle — there is no other option.
She was playing music too loudly, so he took it away.
The passive form is natural and common, especially when focusing on what was removed or the person who lost it.
Her passport was taken away at the border and she had to wait three days to get it back.
Used to describe removing something non-physical, such as a feeling, right, or opportunity.
Losing the competition took away a lot of her confidence.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun (it, them, him, her), it must go between 'take' and 'away'. Placing it after the particle is ungrammatical in English.
'Take out' is used when you remove something from inside a container or enclosed space, like a bag or a drawer. 'Take away' is used when something is removed from a person or a surface — not from inside something.
In British English, 'takeaway' is a very common word for food ordered to eat elsewhere, but this is a completely different meaning. When you use 'take away' to mean remove, you always need an object that is being removed — it does not describe ordering food.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both everyday speech and formal writing. It can describe physical removal (plates, objects) and abstract removal (rights, hope, pain), so it is very versatile.
subtract one number from another
Sense 2: What does "take sth away" mean?
Examples
- If you take away five from twelve, you get seven.
- Now take the tax away from the total and you'll see the original price.
- She took three away from the number and wrote down the answer.
How to use it
This is the most common word order, with the number being subtracted coming directly after 'take away'.
Take away four from nine and you get five.
This separated pattern is also very natural, especially with short numbers or numerals.
She took three away from fifteen and wrote the answer on the board.
When the number or amount is replaced by a pronoun, it must go between 'take' and 'away'.
The discount looked big, so I took it away from the total to find the real price.
This pattern also works with real-life amounts such as tax, costs, or discounts, not just numbers.
Take away the delivery costs from the price and the item is actually quite cheap.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
After the number being subtracted, you must use 'from', not 'to' or 'of'. This is a very common mistake for learners.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'take' and 'away'. You cannot put the pronoun after 'away'.
'Take away' in the maths sense is not used in continuous forms. Use a simple tense instead.
Usage
This is the everyday, informal way to say 'subtract', used especially in spoken British English and in primary school maths. In formal writing or higher-level maths, 'subtract' is more appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'take away' be used for things like feelings or emotions, not just physical objects?
Yes, absolutely. 'Take away' is very commonly used with abstract things like pain, fear, confidence, hope, and freedom. For example, 'The good news took away a lot of the pressure I was feeling.' This abstract use is just as natural as the physical one.
Does 'take away' always need an object?
Yes, for this sense you always need to say what is being taken away. You cannot use it without an object — you must specify what is removed, for example 'took away the plates' or 'took his phone away'.
What is the difference between 'take away' and 'take away from'?
'Take away' means to remove something from a person or place. 'Take away from' is a different pattern that means to reduce the value or importance of something — for example, 'One small mistake doesn't take away from everything you achieved.' These are related but have different meanings, so it's worth knowing both.
Can I use 'take away' in formal writing, like a news article or official document?
Yes, 'take away' is neutral and works well in both informal speech and formal written contexts. It appears regularly in journalism and official situations, for example when describing rights or licences being removed.
Is it correct to say 'was taken away'?
Yes, the passive form is very natural with this phrasal verb. It is especially useful when you want to focus on what was removed rather than who removed it — for example, 'His driving licence was taken away after the incident.'
Is 'take away' the same as 'minus'?
Yes, in everyday speech they mean the same thing. You can say 'ten take away three' or 'ten minus three' — both are natural in informal conversation. 'Take away' is especially common in British English primary school lessons.
What is the difference between 'take away' and 'subtract'?
'Take away' and 'subtract' mean the same thing, but 'take away' is the everyday, spoken version. 'Subtract' sounds more formal and is more typical in written maths or higher-level education. For general conversation and basic calculations, 'take away' is perfectly natural.
Does 'take away' always mean subtraction?
No — 'take away' has other meanings in English. This entry is only about the maths sense. The context usually makes it clear: if the sentence is about numbers or amounts being calculated, it is the subtraction meaning.
Can I say 'take away' with money or percentages, not just numbers?
Yes! 'Take away' works with any measurable amount, not only single numbers. You can say things like 'take away the tax from the price' or 'take away ten per cent from the total'. This is very common in everyday situations like shopping or budgeting.
Ready to practise?
Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.
Start Practising →