I'd take up a position some way away (8)
I believe the answer is:
distance
'some way away' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'i'd take up a position' is the wordplay.
'take up' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'taken up' mean this).
'a position' becomes 'stance' (stance is a kind of position).
'id' backwards is 'di'.
'di'+'stance'='DISTANCE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for distance that I've seen before include "Length of space between one place and another" , "Space between things" , "The gap between two places" , "Full extent of fighting" , "Aloofness, reserve" .)