runway

noun

run·​way ˈrən-ˌwā 

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

: run sense 10b

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

In theater seating orientation, guests faced a runway stage that had three two-story-high 'books' as a set. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

The runway was built as part of the Everglades Jetport plan to build a massive airport in the Everglades that would serve South Florida and the Gulf coast. —Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025

On July 25, 2000, an Air France plane that had been chartered by a tour group struck a piece of debris on the runway at Charles de Gaulle Airport. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 26 June 2025

KeyBanc initiates Cisco as overweight KeyBanc said Cisco has a long runway for growth. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 26 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for runway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

runway

noun

run·​way ˈrən-ˌwā 

1

: run entry 2 sense 9a

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