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

The episode also clued us into Amber’s painful past as a teen runaway and kidnapping victim, offering some important context to explain her actions. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 13 Mar. 2025

When the teenage runaway doesn’t turn up among the Oklahoma Comanche, Kent deduces that the crew must be on the run to Mexico. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025

Adjective

More than 760,000 Venezuelans have arrived at the Southwest border seeking asylum from political repression and runaway violence in their homeland since 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025

When this gas goes through the thermonuclear runaway process (the explosion in the nova), the lack of these elements is amplified, leading to a lower abundance in the explosion's remnants. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Verb

Witnesses said the attacker had run away, and Lewis found that his trial lawyer, Thomas Lee, didn’t present evidence that Brown had been previously shot in the leg one year earlier in January 1998, which prevented him from running from the scene. —Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025

When Peter ran away again, his father tied his son’s hands to a horse’s tail and dragged him back to the mission. —Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for runaway

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

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