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
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
ran away; run away; running away; runs away
1
a
: to leave quickly in order to avoid or escape something
b
: to leave home
especially
: elope
3
: to gain a substantial lead : win by a large margin
see also run away with
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
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
The girl had been reported missing and was listed as a runaway, officials said, the station reported.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
In August, a Florida jury decided that the family of another dead college student, this one killed by a runaway Tesla years ago, should be awarded more than $240 million in damages.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Mike Defabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Bolding asks, prompting his daughter to scream and run away, going into the room next to them.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runaway
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Noun
However, thermal runaway can occur when one battery cell overheats and triggers a chain reaction, leading to extreme heat, flames, and structural damage.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
The girl had been reported missing and was listed as a runaway, officials said, the station reported.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The show's runaway success and growing anticipation for the second season, which releases in December 2025, means revelers will surely be met with a sea of blue jumpsuits, ghoulish face paint and makeshift Pipboys this Halloween season for the second year in a row.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
In August, a Florida jury decided that the family of another dead college student, this one killed by a runaway Tesla years ago, should be awarded more than $240 million in damages.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Opponents were running away from Watt and toward the somewhat undersized Herbig, and enjoying success.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Bolding asks, prompting his daughter to scream and run away, going into the room next to them.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runaway
Cite this Entry
“Runaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runaway. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 adjective1
: running away : fugitive
2
: being out of control
run away
3 of 3 verbˌrən-ə-ˈwā
1
: to leave in a hurry especially to escape from danger or confinement
2
: to leave home
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