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
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
Hilton walked the runway and ended the night with a DJ set, while other stars (including Natalia Bryant, Isan Elba and Avan Jogia) coordinated with the colorful folding screens in matching looks styled by celebrity stylist Danyul Brown.
—
Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026
Certainly somebody is writing all those runway quips on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026
The safety maneuver is used to prevent runway incursions – when aircraft, vehicles or people are incorrectly positioned on a runway – as well as to counter other hazards, like sudden wind shifts and less-than-ideal approaches.
—Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Before Monday’s deadly crash, the most recent incident involving a B-52 occurred in 2016 in Guam, after the plane overran the runway.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for runway
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Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026
Certainly somebody is writing all those runway quips on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026
The safety maneuver is used to prevent runway incursions – when aircraft, vehicles or people are incorrectly positioned on a runway – as well as to counter other hazards, like sudden wind shifts and less-than-ideal approaches.
—Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Before Monday’s deadly crash, the most recent incident involving a B-52 occurred in 2016 in Guam, after the plane overran the runway.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for runway
Cite this Entry
“Runway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runway. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runway
noun
run·way
ˈrən-ˌwā 
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
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