1.
to escape
“The robber got away on a motorbike.”
“The dog got away from its owner.”
“I couldn't get away from work.”
Synonyms: to escape, to flee
Phrasal verb
What does get away mean?
Meaning: to escape; to go on holiday
B1
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Quick answer
Get away = to escape or to move away from someone or something. The thief got away. It is also very common for going on holiday: We need to get away this weekend. It takes no direct object. A useful expression: get away with something = to do something wrong and not be punished.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
2.
to go on holiday; to take a break
common“We're getting away for the weekend.”
“She needs to get away from the city.”
Synonyms: to go on holiday, to take a break
3.
to do wrong and not be punished (with “with”)
idiomatic“He got away with cheating.”
“You won't get away with it!”
Synonyms: to escape punishment, to not get caught
Word order
Intransitive (no object)
This phrasal verb does not take an object.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- get away
- Past Simple:
- got away
- Past participle:
- got away (UK) / gotten away (US)
- -ing form:
- getting away
Common mistakes to avoid
Get away from + a place or a person
To say what you are escaping from, add from: get away from the noise ✓. Never get away the noise ❌. Without from, it just means to escape.
Get away with: not punished
Get away with + noun or -ing = to not get caught. He got away with lying = he lied and nobody punished him. This is different from get away alone, and it is an idiom.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does get away mean?+
Get away has three main meanings: (1) to escape (the thief got away); (2) to go on holiday (get away for the weekend); (3) with with: to do something wrong and not be punished.
What is the difference between get away and run away?+
Run away = to leave quickly on foot (the action). Get away = to succeed in escaping (the result). The dog got away (it managed to escape) / The dog ran away (it ran off).
What does get away with mean?+
Get away with something = to do something wrong and not get caught or punished. He got away with murder is an idiom. It means he did something bad and had no problems at all (it is not about a real murder). This expression is very common.
Is get away separable?+
No, it takes no direct object. To add more information, use from (get away from work) or with (get away with cheating).
What does “I need to get away” mean?+
It means that you need to leave for a while and have a break or a holiday. I really need to get away = I really need a holiday. The noun is a getaway = a short holiday.
Related phrasal verbs
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/get-away
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.