runaway

1 of 3

noun

run·​away ˈrə-nə-ˌwā 

1

: one that runs away from danger, duty, or restraint : fugitive

2

: the act of running away out of control

also : something (such as a horse) that is running out of control

3

: a one-sided or overwhelming victory

runaway

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: running away : fugitive

b

: leaving to gain special advantages (such as lower wages) or avoid disadvantages (such as governmental or union restrictions)

runaway shipping firms

a runaway shop

2

: accomplished by elopement or during flight

3

: won by or having a long lead

a runaway success

also : extremely successful

a runaway bestseller

4

: subject to uncontrolled changes

runaway inflation

5

: being or operating out of control

a runaway oil well

a runaway nuclear reactor

run away

3 of 3

verb

ran away; run away; running away; runs away

intransitive verb

1

a

: to leave quickly in order to avoid or escape something

b

: to leave home

especially : elope

2

: to run out of control : stampede, bolt

3

: to gain a substantial lead : win by a large margin

see also run away with

Synonyms

Adjective

• abandoned
• intemperate
• rampant
• raw
• unbounded
• unbridled
• unchecked
• uncontrolled
• unhampered
• unhindered
• unrestrained

Verb

• abscond
• break out (of)
• clear out
• escape
• flee
• fly
• get out
• lam
• run off

Examples of runaway in a Sentence

Adjective

The play was a runaway success.

a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl

Verb

ran away from an unhappy marriage

the child runs away from large dogs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Langstaff contacted the girl through a Reddit forum for runaways and then drove to Peoria, Ariz. — a suburb of Phoenix — to pick her up, according to a plea agreement. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024

Cramer had previously left her parents' home several times and had been reported as a runaway before. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 3 Oct. 2024

Adjective

And these runaway costs influence how parents of young children – especially mothers – plan to vote in November. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024

Reduce prices / cost of living by reining in runaway government spending and punitive, job-killing regulations, particularly on our farmers, energy and transportation workers, and manufacturers. —The Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2024

Verb

Police offered few details of the incident, but reportedly had surrounded a residence in the 5500 block of Nottingham Court after shots were fired and a woman in the home was physically assaulted by the male suspect, who ran away. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 3 Oct. 2024

Police said the boy tried to run away and pulled what looked like a handgun out of his pocket. —Cait Bladt, CBS News, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

runaway

1 of 3 noun

run·​away ˈrən-ə-ˌwā 

1

: a person who runs away : fugitive

2

: the act of running away out of control

also : something (as a horse) that is running out of control

runaway

2 of 3 adjective

1

: running away : fugitive

2

: being out of control

run away

3 of 3 verb

ˌrən-ə-ˈwā

1

: to leave in a hurry especially to escape from danger or confinement

2

: to leave home