runway

noun

run·​way ˈrən-ˌwā 

1

a

: a beaten path made by animals

b

: a passageway for animals

2

: a paved strip of ground on a landing field for the landing and takeoff of aircraft

3

a

: a narrow platform from a stage into an auditorium

b

: a platform along which models walk in a fashion show

4

: run sense 10b

5

: the area or path along which a jumper, pole-vaulter, or javelin thrower runs

Examples of runway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The serious, awards-minded films that once might have premiered as stand-alone TV movies now almost always arrive as a limited series, where the runway is longer, and the campaign budgets are bigger. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 June 2026

This year is yet another for the World Cup; Yu Masui and Takeji Hirakawa are still strutting their stuff, and Phil Oh, along with Acielle Tanbetova, will be documenting all the off-the-runway action. —Irene Kim, Vogue, 13 June 2026

Advancing into the knockout rounds brings additional prize money, more broadcast exposure, more sponsor visibility and a longer commercial runway for federations and players. —Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

High-fashion runways have been heralding a skinny jean renaissance in recent seasons, but the trend has not yet trickled into mainstream retail. —Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for runway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

runway

noun

run·​way ˈrən-ˌwā 

1

: run entry 2 sense 9a

2

: a paved strip of ground (as at an airport) for the landing and takeoff of aircraft

3

: a support (as a track, pipe, or trough) on which something runs