plural runaways
: someone (such as a child) who leaves home without permission : someone who runs away from home
teenage runaways
always used before a noun
1
—used to describe a person who has left home without permission or who has escaped from some place
runaway teenagers
a runaway slave
2
: operating, running, increasing, etc., in a fast and dangerous way that cannot be controlled
a runaway horse/train
a runaway oil well
runaway inflation
3
: extremely successful
a runaway best seller
The play was a runaway success.
4
a
: won very easily by a large amount
a runaway victory
b
: having won very easily by a large amount
She was the runaway winner of the race.
Cite this Entry
“Runaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/runaway. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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