runaway

1 of 3

noun

run·​away ˈrə-nə-ˌwā 

1

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

especially : a child who leaves home without permission

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

specifically : 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 of runaway

Adjective

• rampant
• uncontrolled

Verb

• escape
• flee
• run off
• fly
• get out

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 device is designed to provide real-time insight into battery health and detect conditions that could lead to failures such as thermal runaway. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 2026

The games were neither displays of baseball elegance nor overpowering runaways. —Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 8 June 2026

Adjective

One of the risks during the instabilities are runaway electrons, which accelerate to relativistic energies and can slam into the walls of the reaction chamber. —ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026

Many are now discovering in their late 60s and early 70s that the script did not account for a 90‑plus lifespan or for the cumulative effects of wage stagnation, market crashes, and runaway medical costs. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 June 2026

Verb

That's when O'Flaherty ran away through a window. —Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 6 June 2026

San Diego is only 1/2 game out of a Wild Card spot, but, like the Mets, the Padres are in a division where one team is running away with things (the Los Angeles Dodgers) and another is emerging as a contender in the NL (the Arizona Diamondbacks). —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026

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
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• 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