Dictionary

eat away en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /iːt‿əˈweɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /it‿əˈweɪ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From eat + away.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To physically corrode or erode (something) gradually.
   • The zinc electrode has a positive charge because it has lost electrons to the carbon electrode. This positive charge attracts the negative ions (SO₄) from the sulfuric acid. The negative ions combine with the zinc to form zinc sulfate. This action causes the zinc electrode to be eaten away. […] The process of the zinc being eaten away and the sulfuric acid changing to hydrogen and zinc sulfate is the cause of the cell discharging. 1992 February, “Batteries”, in Introduction to Matter, Energy, and Direct Current (Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series, Nonresident Training Course; module 1; NAVEDTRA B72-01-00-92), Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office for the Naval Education and Training Program Management Support Activity, →OCLC, page 2-5, column 2:
   • The river bank had been eaten away over the years by the flood water.
   • The wearing away of rock is the work partly of the atmosphere and partly of water. The action of the atmosphere is chemical, and eats away the rock as rust eats away iron. 1878, “Soil and Manure”, in The Royal Readers: Sequel to No. V (The Royal School Series; 2), London; Edinburgh: T[homas] Nelson and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, paragraph 1, page 143:
   • To eate avvay dead fleſh, take Stubbe-vvort, and folde it vp in a red Docke leafe, or red VVort leafe, and ſo roſte it in the hot embers and lay it hot to any ſore, and it vvill fret avvay all the dead fleſh; […] 1615, G[ervase] M[arkham], “[The English Hus-wife.] Of the Inward Vertues of the Minde which Ought to Bee in Euery Hous-wife.”, in Countrey Contentments, in Two Bookes: The First, Containing the Whole Art of Riding Great Horses in Very Short Time, […] The Second Intituled, The English Huswife: […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for R[oger] Iackson, […], →OCLC, page 33:
2. (figuratively, idiomatic, transitive) To destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process.
   • During the second year, Magnus's extracurricular activities ate away at his finances. Drugs and women did not come cheap. 2011, Eric Wilson, chapter 20, in 1 Step Away: A Modern Twist on One of the World’s Oldest Tales (By the Numbers Series; 1), Leesburg, Fla.: Bay Forest Books, →ISBN, page 113:
   • [T]hus does politeneſs ſport vvith truth, and eating avvay the ſincerity and humanity natural to man, produce the fine gentleman. 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Morality Undermined by Sexual Notions of the Importance of a Good Reputation”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC, pages 298–299:
   • The sun still eats away the shadow inch by inch, beating down with such intensity that finally everybody disappears except a few passers by. 1858 May 31 (date written), Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Incisa”, in Passages from the French and Italian Note-books of Nathaniel Hawthorne, volume I, London: Strahan & Co., […], published 1871, →OCLC, page 347:
   • At your Table I vvill proue / If I can eate avvay my loue. 1602, [John or Joshua Cooke], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie, wherein is Shewed How a Man may Chuse a Good Wife from a Bad. […], London: […] Mathew Lawe, […], →OCLC; reprinted as How a Man may Choose a Good Wife from a Bad (Old English Drama Students’ Facsimile Edition; [57]), [S.l.]: [s.n.], 1912, →OCLC, folio F2, verso:
3. (figuratively, idiomatic, specifically, transitive) Chiefly followed by at: of a circumstance, incident, etc.: to cause (someone) to feel guilty, troubled, or worried; to bother (see eat away at).
   • The guilt of having lied was eating away at him.
   • If [Tony] Horton had stuck it out for only two more days, his value would have increased. Instead, he buckled at absolutely the worst time. This ate away at him. 1999, Terry Pluto, “The Sad Saga of 1970”, in Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 197:
   • Although you didn't want him around at first, the thought of losing him now is eating away at you. 1992, Eric R. Marcus, “Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of Psychosis”, in Psychosis and Near Psychosis: Ego Function, Symbol Structure, Treatment, New York, N.Y.: Springer-Verlag, →ISBN, page 227:
   • Not confessing that I had stolen the money ate away at me until I could no longer sleep.

Forms

Deriveds

eat away at

Synonyms

begnaw · erode · corrode

Translations (90)

ru выеда́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fi lahottaa (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es roer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl jeść (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sq grij (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru разъе́сть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl nadeżreć (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fi nakertaa (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ro roade (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · cs rozežrat (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · mk нагризе (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fi jäytää (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl skorodować (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es cancerar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · cs rozežírat (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sq brej (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl przeżreć (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · de nagen (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh nàgristi (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl wyżreć (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh ѝзгристи (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · eu jan (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fi kuluttaa (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru подмыва́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es carcomer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · el μαραίνω (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh ìzgristi (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · mt qarmeċ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar رَتَمَ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ca desgastar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ca rosegar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl przeżerać (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar تَآكَلَ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru подмы́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh nagrízati (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · de zerfressen (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar نَخْرَبَ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · hu esz (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · cs rozžírat (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl wyżerać (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh гри̏сти (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru изъе́сть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fi rapauttaa (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru изъеда́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es picar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh grȉsti (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ba ашау (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar أَهْلَكَ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl przegryzać (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · dum cnāgen (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · de fressen (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ga cnaígh (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh на̀гристи (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar قَرَضَ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru пожра́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl zjeść (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es apolillar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · la obedō (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru пожира́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fr chicoter (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl zżerać (to bother) · it smangiare (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pt comer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · sh нагри́зати (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · de aufzehren (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es pacer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ga creim (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru вы́есть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl żłobić (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl przegryźć (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar أَكَلَ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · io manjar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · et õgima (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ca corcar (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl korodować (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ar أَبْلَى (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es chancomer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ta பட்சி (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fi syövyttää (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · rsk єсц (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl nadżerać (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ca corcar (to bother) · ro mânca (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ru разъеда́ть (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · lad komer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · ceb kutkot (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · es reconcomer (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · pl zeżreć (to bother) · xcl հարկանեմ (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process) · fr émietter (to physically corrode or erode (something) gradually; (figurative) to destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process)