Phrase guide

eat away at

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To erode.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The river is eating away at the river bank.
  • The battery acid ate away at the metal until a large hole appeared.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To consume or use up, erode or wear away gradually.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The expenses ate away at our profits.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cause to feel uneasy, troubled, worried, guilty, or vexed; to bother about something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Not confessing that I had stolen the money ate away at me until I could no longer sleep.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From eat away + at.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: jeść — to erode
  • Polish: zjeść — to erode
  • Polish: korodować — to erode
  • Polish: skorodować — to erode
  • Polish: nadżerać — to erode
  • Polish: nadeżreć — to erode
  • Polish: przegryzać — to erode
  • Polish: przegryźć — to erode
  • Polish: przeżerać — to erode
  • Polish: przeżreć — to erode
  • Polish: wyżerać — to erode
  • Polish: wyżreć — to erode
  • Polish: żłobić — to erode
  • Polish: pochłaniać — to consume or use up
  • Polish: pochłonąć — to consume or use up
  • Polish: zżerać — to bother about something
  • Polish: zeżreć — to bother about something