runaway

1 of 3

noun

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

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• abandoned
• intemperate
• rampant
• raw
• unbounded
• unbridled
• unchecked
• uncontrolled
• unhampered
• unhindered
• unrestrained

Verb

• abscond
• break out (of)
• clear out
• escape
• flee
• fly
• get out
• lam
• run off

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 children included endangered runaways and those abducted by parents who didn’t have custody, a news release from the Justice Department said. —Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 7 July 2024

The Reddit forum that Langstaff met the victim on was allegedly for runaways and there were multiple contacts between the girl and Langstaff leading up to her departure, according to the affidavit. —Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024

Adjective

And, of course, the eruption of a runaway AI capital-investment boom almost the moment stocks bottomed and inflation peaked in late 2022 has engorged the big-cap growth segment of the market, compensating for an abundance of weakness elsewhere. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 July 2024

Women’s sports increasingly rival men’s as a source for fiery debates and runaway ratings. —Andrew Barker, Variety, 12 July 2024

Verb

Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. —Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 12 July 2024

The suspect, 24-year-old Serena C.J. Rodriguez, allegedly tried to run away from the scene, but she was stopped by bystanders who witnessed the crash, the highway patrol said. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 12 July 2024

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

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