Get away or getaway?
get away is a verb meaning “To move away (from)”; getaway is a noun meaning “A means of escape”. Use get away as a verb and getaway as a noun. get away is written as two words and getaway as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between get away and getaway?
| get away | getaway | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | verb, interjection, adjective, noun | noun, adjective |
| Meaning | To move away (from) To avoid capture; to escape; to flee (from) Expressing disbelief | A means of escape The effecting of an escape Pertaining to an escape, as in a vehicle or plans |
| Example | Get away from the edge of the cliff! | They'd been discussing their getaway plans for weeks |
| Forms | none | getaways |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | 3.2 times per million words |
Sources: get away and getaway in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of get away and getaway
get away
- 1
To move away (from)
Get away from the edge of the cliff!
- 2
Expressing disbelief
You bought that for twenty pounds? Get away!
- 3
Alternative spelling of getaway
- 4
Alternative spelling of getaway
- 5
To avoid capture; to escape; to flee (from)
Surround the bank! Don't let the robber get away!
- 6
To take a break from one's present circumstances; to journey (to), especially on holiday
This place is really getting me down. I need to get away for a while
- 7
To start moving; to depart
The train got away exactly on time
- 8
To slip from one's control
I can't cope any more. Things are getting away from me
getaway
- 1
A means of escape
- 2
Pertaining to an escape, as in a vehicle or plans
They'd been discussing their getaway plans for weeks
- 3
The effecting of an escape
- 4
informalA vacation or holiday, or the destination for one
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, get away or getaway?
get away is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; getaway 3.2 times per million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).