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

Fires can be caused by overcharging, overheating, physical damage or product defects, which trigger a process known as thermal runaway — where excessive heat inside a battery creates a self-sustaining chemical reaction that can then easily spread to adjacent batteries. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024

How come the 2024 presidential election is not a runaway? —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2024

Adjective

This factor might go some way to explaining the runaway success of Sky series Brassic on Netflix these past few months. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2024

Things don’t get any easier for the Citizens as they next travel to early runaway leader Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. —Matias Grez, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024

Verb

Fiyero, who has been turned into the scarecrow after trying to help Elphaba earlier in the show, returns to the site of the melting, releasing Elphaba from a trap door and the pair run away together. —Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024

Boucher, who was identified as the suspect, tried to run away even as officers repeatedly told him to stop. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 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