fill away: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low, archaicLiterary, historical, nautical
Quick answer
What does “fill away” mean?
To set sail, to begin sailing, especially by catching the wind in the sails and moving off.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To set sail, to begin sailing, especially by catching the wind in the sails and moving off.
Can be used metaphorically to describe beginning a task or journey energetically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and rare in both varieties. Might be slightly more recognized in British English due to stronger historical maritime traditions in literature.
Connotations
Evokes images of 18th-19th century sailing ships. Has a romantic, adventurous, or old-fashioned feel.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage outside of historical fiction or specific nautical re-enactment contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fill away” in a Sentence
[Subject: Ship/Crew] + fill away[Subject: Captain] + order + [Object: Ship] + to fill awayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fill away” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The captain gave the command, and the clipper filled away from Portsmouth.
- With the tide turning, they filled away on the port tack.
American English
- The schooner filled away from Mystic Seaport, her sails billowing.
- As the wind freshened, the replica frigate filled away smartly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary analysis.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Only in historical nautical contexts or sailing manuals discussing traditional techniques.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fill away”
- Using it in modern contexts.
- Confusing it with 'fade away' or 'fly away'.
- Treating 'fill' and 'away' as separate elements (e.g., 'fill the bottle away').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic and is almost exclusively found in historical, literary, or specialised nautical contexts.
Only metaphorically, and even then it is very rare. It strongly retains its nautical imagery and is not a standard metaphorical phrase like 'set sail on a new project'.
They are near synonyms. 'Fill away' often emphasises the moment the sails catch the wind and the ship begins to move, while 'set sail' can refer to the broader act of beginning a voyage.
No, 'fill away' is only used as a phrasal verb. There is no standard nominalised form.
To set sail, to begin sailing, especially by catching the wind in the sails and moving off.
Fill away is usually literary, historical, nautical in register.
Fill away: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪl əˈweɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪl əˈweɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fill away on a new tack”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sails FILLing with wind, enabling the ship to glide AWAY from the harbour.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNING A JOURNEY IS SETTING SAIL; STARTING A PROJECT IS CATCHING THE WIND.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'fill away' be MOST appropriate?