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 system is not prone to thermal runaways and therefore poses no fire risk. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026

Directed by Mark Vanselow and written by Thompson Evans, The Mongoose also stars Ving Rhames as Tanker, one of Fang’s fellow vets, and Michael Chiklis as Pope, the officer tasked with the runaway’s capture. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

Adjective

Federal safety investigators looking into a runaway Tesla that killed a grandmother in her home say the driver had pressed the accelerator to full speed, suggesting the vehicle’s self-driving software was not to blame. — Bernard Condon, Fortune, 16 July 2026

So, how could a raccoon, an animal that evolved over hundreds of millions of years to adapt itself perfectly to swampy forests, find such runaway success living amid the most destructive and systematically ruthless species ever to exist? — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Verb

According to court records, Sevey allegedly began shooting at a group of four people running away, wounding a male juvenile in the leg. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

This is the third incident in the past year in which someone has been killed by a moving vehicle while running away from ICE officers. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 14 July 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