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to eat away at
01
to slowly remove or destroy something over time
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Inseparable
Particle
away at
Base verb
eat
Present tense
eat away at
3rd person singular
eats away at
Present participle
eating away at
Past simple
ate away at
Past participle
eaten away at
Examples
Over time, the rust began to eat away at the metal bridge, causing structural concerns.
02
to gradually reduce the amount of something, typically through a slow and continuous process
Examples
The rising inflation began to eat away at the purchasing power of the currency.
03
to make someone feel very worried over a long period of time, often through a persistent and troubling situation
Examples
The uncertainty of the job market began to eat away at her confidence and peace of mind.
