1
as in escaped
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
ran away from an unhappy marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the child runs away from large dogs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ran away
As the boys ran away down the street, the man raised the pistol again and fired at them, striking Guzman in the back.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The boys knocked on Leon’s door several times and ran away, Julián’s cousin told police.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Janari heard the shots, turned and ran away.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The pair jumped out of the SUV and ran away but were found hiding in bushes.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Police said at the time that another then-17-year-old boy was driving the car when a shot rang out, and that three other occupants ran away, leaving a dying Miguel and the driver behind.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Copeland had already ran away, and the West Palm Beach officers immediately returned to their city, the affidavit said.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The boys knocked on Leon’s door several times and ran away, Julián’s cousin told police.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Janari heard the shots, turned and ran away.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The pair jumped out of the SUV and ran away but were found hiding in bushes.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Police said at the time that another then-17-year-old boy was driving the car when a shot rang out, and that three other occupants ran away, leaving a dying Miguel and the driver behind.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Copeland had already ran away, and the West Palm Beach officers immediately returned to their city, the affidavit said.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran away
Verb
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Two 12-year-old girls escaped the fire.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gerson believes the gangs have retreated.—
Johnny Fils-Aimé,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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Runner-up Sabalenka, meanwhile, retreated to another area, smashed her racket until the frame buckled and sat with her back against the wall, next to the scratch marks left on the floor.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The vehicle that Routh had fled in — the black Nissan Xterra — also bore a license plate that was not registered to the car, according to the court filing.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Twelve days after Smith fled, authorities received a call that two men had been shot while on a hunting trip near Kiana.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After the loss to Martins, Makhachev ran off 10 straight wins.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The teens ran off but two of them were soon apprehended by police — with a third suspect still being sought, police sources said.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Also, treat operational maintenance as a growth lever, not as tech debt, because speed is achieved when reliability is baked into the process, not bolted on.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Many of the plants have bolted or gone to seed or withered in the heat.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Debose got out on a $10,000 bond due to the choices of a magistrate in that pursuit case, but Hartig was still handling the proceedings.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Word got out and, even before The Public Eye was released, Jerry was cast as Paul House, the murderer in Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery — a role every bit as big as Diane Keaton’s, Alan Alda’s or Angelica Huston’s.—
Howard Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Surround it with pumpkins, fashion it in front of a garland strand, or place it on a velvet table running across the manteltop to tie the whole look together.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
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This look is perfect for landing in a style-conscious city like Paris or Chicago and hitting the ground running without needing a quick change in the airport bathroom.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The country is also the site of the Western Hemisphere’s longest-running internal armed conflict, and constitutionally requires all men between the ages of 18 and 24 to undertake some form of military service.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Zorian Palmore, who saw time at running back and quarterback, ran for a team-high 68 yards for Trinity.—
Cody Thorn,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ran away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran%20away. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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