runaway

1 of 3

noun

run·​away ˈrə-nə-ˌwā How to pronounce runaway (audio)
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

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
There was one area in which Moore won in a runaway: points per drive. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2023 Heat generated from a fire, thermal runaway of an adjacent cell, or shorting of the battery can melt the porous membrane between the battery’s cathode and anode, causing this cell to go into thermal runaway. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023 Our children are classified as runaways and runaways does not meet the criteria to initiate an Amber Alert. Abc News, ABC News, 3 May 2023 But with such a short runaway for his takeoff into the 2023 campaign, how much will Jacobs play during Sunday’s season-opener? Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 9 Sep. 2023 There is no other realm where retirees and runaways, ex-felons and vets, members of rival gangs all share a roughly 10-yard by 3-yard space for days on end in cases. Time, 4 July 2023 In the face of alarming statistics linking teenage runaways to human trafficking, Talcove is gearing up for a 320-mile journey from Maine to his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts — what’s being called The Ultra Ride. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2023 Ads featuring runaways bought by southern enslavers were the most common form of newspaper revenue in the nation, according to historian Khalil Gibran Muhammad. Stanley Nelson, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2023 The driver was eighteen-year-old Amelia Shephard from Truro, Nova Scotia, a chronic runaway escaping her parent’s messy, endless divorce. Hazlitt, 7 June 2023
Adjective
That runaway growth far exceeds both inflation and pay raises in the United Kingdom. Anna Cooban, CNN, 23 Sep. 2023 Here, the voice that powered Priests’ punk attack is now engulfed in sonic collages where elements accumulate and disintegrate in wall-of-sound songs with the propulsion and danger of a runaway train. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023 The runaway inflation conversely means restaurants in the capital are packed, because there’s no point in saving when a paycheck loses purchasing power every month. Almuneda Calatrava, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Sep. 2023 The Monday indictment brings the total charges Trump is facing from all four cases up to 91 -- but Republicans actively working to keep Trump from winning the nomination appeared to be talking about a runaway train, referencing the gains the former president enjoyed after previous indictments. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2023 Large and unpredictable, like a runaway driverless car—and similarly at risk of bursting into flames. Adam Morganstern, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023 The biggest question heading into what should be a runaway Utah win is whether quarterback Cam Rising is finally ready to make his season debut. Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023 Dallas scored the final four goals of the game, from four different players, in the third period, turning a one-goal deficit into a three-goal runaway win. Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023 The runaway hype of the preseason is about to give way the cold reality of Week 1 in the NFL. Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023
Verb
The film is a coming of age following a high school student (Talia Ryder) who runs away while on a school trip and hits the road. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Sep. 2023 Look for a big day from Trevor Lawrence. Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Jaguars 27-20 The Jaguars should run away with the AFC South after rolling through the second half and getting into the divisional playoffs. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2023 After coming out and moving/running away, this has only been exacerbated. Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 Also, do not run away as this may trigger them to chase you and/or your dog. Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2023 As other parents called 911 and off-duty first responders tended to Villanueva, the man accused of attacking him ran away. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023 Police said Hampton had been trying to clear the jammed round from his gun while running away. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023 The gunmen ran away, apparently having stolen nothing. Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023 People in the video are also seen running away from the buildings. Itzel Luna, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'runaway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of runaway was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near runaway

Cite this Entry

“Runaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runaway. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

runaway

1 of 3 noun
run·​away ˈrən-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce runaway (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on runaway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!