# do away with

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/do-away-with
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To abolish; to put an end to; to eliminate.

## Examples

- The company decided to do away with paper forms.
- The city council plans to do away with the old parking rules to reduce traffic in the center.
- The school will do away with the traditional grading system next year to focus more on creative projects and student participation.
- After the revolution, the new government sought to do away with the outdated laws that had restricted personal freedom for decades.

## Origin

Very likely a continuation of Old English onweġ dōn (“to get rid of”, literally “to do away”, from onweġ (“away”) and dōn (“to do”, also “to make, cause, put”)), via a Middle English *awey don, *oway don, *don awey, and other forms. The preposition with was probably also already in use from the outset, given how its original meaning is “against” (still seen in e.g. argue with, withstand and have a fight with). The original meaning of the phrase was therefore on the lines of “to put away against (someone or something)” or “to make/cause (s.o./sth. to go) away”, which are long-obsolete senses of do. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.