1
as in escaped
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
ran away from an unhappy marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the child runs away from large dogs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ran away
The kick curved and popped the back corner of the net, and Kocher ran away with arms outstretched and mouth agape, in slight disbelief of a goal that clinched a 2-1 win — and the third straight girls’ 3A state title for Colorado Academy.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Deputies are looking for the shooter, who ran away, Peguero Rivera said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
The man ran away, and the children were treated by EMS.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 18 May 2026
The driver and sole occupant of the Chevrolet ran away from the crash and has not been identified our found, Gonzalez said.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
PragueReuters — An unknown thief snatched an 800-year-old skull believed to be of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a display box in a church in the northern Czech Republic and ran away with the relic, police said on Wednesday.
—CNN Money, 13 May 2026
The man ran away but officers located him and took him into custody.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
This Daisy ran away from her two dads, acquiring a rap sheet for petty theft along the way.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
As the driver ran away, Long took photos of the fleeing man, who was later arrested and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Deputies are looking for the shooter, who ran away, Peguero Rivera said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
The man ran away, and the children were treated by EMS.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 18 May 2026
The driver and sole occupant of the Chevrolet ran away from the crash and has not been identified our found, Gonzalez said.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
PragueReuters — An unknown thief snatched an 800-year-old skull believed to be of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a display box in a church in the northern Czech Republic and ran away with the relic, police said on Wednesday.
—CNN Money, 13 May 2026
The man ran away but officers located him and took him into custody.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
This Daisy ran away from her two dads, acquiring a rap sheet for petty theft along the way.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
As the driver ran away, Long took photos of the fleeing man, who was later arrested and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran away
Verb
-
Stray bits of hair escaped my ponytail and stung my eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
The injured duckling was treated at a veterinary clinic while the other ducklings escaped the area with the mother duck.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
In fact, the company had filed papers twice before but then retreated from the idea as different private equity investors came forward to further fund the company.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
-
The crossover funds retreated when the market corrected.—
Harlem Capital,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Tanya Veluz fled the Eaton Fire with her 10-year-old as ash and embers rained down.—
Aarne Heikkila,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
-
Refugees fled south as communist troops stormed down Highway 1, heading for the nation’s capital, Saigon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Fey said as her daughter laughed and ran off.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
Jansen then reportedly ran off to avoid being captured.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The company contrasts this with many other AI assistants, which are often bolted onto existing tools.—
Ellen Sheng,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
As soon as the friend left the room, Panettiere bolted.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
When Whitehead reentered the Toyota, the man in the backseat got out and pointed a rifle at him, records said.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
-
Wow, that fire got out of control fast!—
William Earl,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
International visitors will undoubtedly flock to run the famous Rocky steps, before taking a bite of one of the city’s iconic cheesesteaks at Geno’s.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The desire for immortality is really a desire for liberation from the claustrophobia of our own minds, not a physiological discovery about how to keep our bodies running longer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran%20away. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
