1
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
ran away from an unhappy marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the child runs away from large dogs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rampant
showing no signs of being under control
a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sweep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of run away
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
The deficit swelled to 12, but the Knicks never let Houston run away with it.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025
Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
At least, though, a Republican administration is finally grappling with this runaway agency.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 Feb. 2025
City News Service, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2025
About 41% of people actively missing in the city as of Dec. 13 were classified by Detroit police as runaways, according to data posted on the page.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for run away
Verb
Also, any time the female cast members sing together is a win, but both Andrew Dismukes, as the spurned groom, and Marcello Hernández as the man, the myth, the legend, Domingo, adorably run away with the sketch.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
The deficit swelled to 12, but the Knicks never let Houston run away with it.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
The lithium-ion batteries were stacked, and made of older chemistry using nickel, manganese and cobalt, which can cause runaway fires when ignited.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
At least, though, a Republican administration is finally grappling with this runaway agency.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
The investigation of the defendant began in October 2021 when a detective contacted an Orange County investigator about a 17-year-old runaway, Deputy District Attorney Taylor Krone said in his opening statement of the trial.
—City News Service, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2025
About 41% of people actively missing in the city as of Dec. 13 were classified by Detroit police as runaways, according to data posted on the page.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for run away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run away
Verb
-
His songs convey a profound restlessness—a yearning to escape and leave his past behind, reflecting an unease with his circumstances.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Seeking escape from an uneasy family life, Gene was entranced by the movies.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
With their press broken, Newcastle had to retreat to their 5-4-1 shape but became fatigued making so many recovery runs.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Big tech companies were among the first to retreat.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a didactic, Brechtian structure to the movie — Brecht is cited several times in the dialogue — in which Jude asks the viewer to question what the death of Ion means in a society wracked by rampant capitalism, racist nationalism and religious extremism.—
Jordan Mintzer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Musk has claimed there is rampant fraud taking place at the SSA, including payments being made to millions of long-dead recipients, which has been widely disputed.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Aren’t there way more immediately threatening things to worry about, like, oh, say, gun violence and immigration sweeps in schools?—
April Daniels Hussar,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2025
-
For days, rumors that the federal government was planning a massive immigration enforcement sweep in Los Angeles County on Sunday had put officials on alert and cast a pall of fear and unease across many immigrant communities.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
By the late 1970s, hundreds of thousands of refugees had fled the country by boat and overland, flooding into Hong Kong and Thailand.—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
-
While the country does provide asylum to those fleeing their countries, migrants must apply within the first 30 business days of their arrival.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Jack then tells Portia to not return to the White Lotus and wait for Tanya and to go to the airport and fly home instead.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Its feathers confirmed its ability to fly, albeit not with the grace of modern birds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
As a result, many chronic diseases remain uncontrolled for years, leading to worsening health and skyrocketing medical costs.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Based on preliminary information, the Falcon 9 rocket part was dragged out of orbit in an uncontrolled manner, which is likely why the vehicle appeared to reenter Earth’s atmosphere over Europe and crash-land this week.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
California could be ultimately switched out with Dougherty Valley as the Wildcats have two blowout wins over their San Ramon rivals.—
Nathan Canilao,
The Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Maybe the Huskies rediscovered the championship pedigree with a blowout win at South Carolina.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Run away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20away. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share