fade away

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away

Meanings

1

Gradually become less visible, audible or strong

Fading

Why “away”? Something slowly becomes weaker until it is gone.

“The sound faded away.”
The sound slowly became too quiet to hear.
“The music faded away as we left.”
The music slowly became quieter until we could not hear it.
“The colour faded away in the sun.”
The colour slowly became weaker in the sun.

Test yourself

“The sound faded away.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

chip away

Same away pattern: fading

Gradually reduce something a little at a time

die away

Same away pattern: fading

Lose intensity until silent

drift away

Same away pattern: fading

Slip out of awareness slowly; Gradually become less close to someone

eat away

Same away pattern: fading

Gradually destroy something by erosion or worry

ebb away

Same away pattern: fading

Gradually weaken or recede

explain away

Same away pattern: fading

Give reasons that make a problem seem less serious

fall away

Same away pattern: fading

Decrease in number or amount

fritter away

Same away pattern: fading

Waste time, money or opportunities little by little

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