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

The plane began its takeoff from one of the airport's runways, but reached only 475 feet of elevation — or roughly 100 feet off the ground — prior to crashing. —Staff, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025

While big sister Leni has taken to the runways like their mom, Heidi Klum's sons Henry, 19, and Johan, 18, have stayed away from the cameras, for the most part. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

The competition features weekly eliminations, with one designer sent home after each runway show. —Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 14 Nov. 2025

Three years ago Veronica Huerta, an Indigenous visual storyteller from the Yaqui Nation, teamed up with Looking Horse to photograph her process and runway shows. —Sandra Guzmán, USA Today, 14 Nov. 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