1
as in to escape
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 to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the child runs away from large dogs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rampant
showing no signs of being under control
a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sweep
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 run away
Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The dog bit the victim’s hand multiple times, and the dog and its owner then ran away and remain on the loose, cops said.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Netflix had a runaway hit on its hands when the first season of Bridgerton made its curtsey to the queen on Christmas Day 2020.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
In Arthur Penn’s 1975 neo-noir Night Moves, Griffith is Delly Grastner, a 16-year-old runaway with a little girl’s voice and a grown woman’s body—on full display in an underwater nude scene—intent on seducing Gene Hackman, 43 and paunchy.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run away
Verb
In 1802, seventeen-year-old Thomas De Quincey, the son of a wealthy merchant, ran away from his Manchester boarding school.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The dog bit the victim’s hand multiple times, and the dog and its owner then ran away and remain on the loose, cops said.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
When Mickey smashes the broom, each piece becomes a new water-fetching runaway robot.
—Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Netflix had a runaway hit on its hands when the first season of Bridgerton made its curtsey to the queen on Christmas Day 2020.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
Michigan State Police used thermal drone technology to find a 16-year-old runaway who was hiding under railroad ties in mid-Michigan.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
In Arthur Penn’s 1975 neo-noir Night Moves, Griffith is Delly Grastner, a 16-year-old runaway with a little girl’s voice and a grown woman’s body—on full display in an underwater nude scene—intent on seducing Gene Hackman, 43 and paunchy.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run away
Verb
-
After a skirmish, Pretti escaped from the officer and went toward the crowd.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Event Horizon refers to the boundary of a black hole beyond which light can’t escape, according to the National Science Foundation.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index retreated nearly 2%, leading losses in the region.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The agents ultimately retreated without bringing Pretti into custody.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This rises to 73% of those in tech roles, where layoffs have been most rampant.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Given rampant grade inflation, an internship can be the most important differentiator for recent graduate hiring.—
Brandon Busteed,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As the song progresses, more elements—slow-moving filter sweeps, waltzing arpeggios, a deep and doomy bassline—appear and disappear, moving into the fore of the stereo field before corroding and flaking away.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Layton frames these three in a sprawling, atmospheric LA noir with an impressive sweep reminiscent of William Friedkin at his best.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The suspect fled the area before police arrived.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Salazarmontano also admitted sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter and inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics are home to some unique and exciting sports that feature uncommon vernacular.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Last November, the PLA Air Force released a video showing a GJ-11 flying alongside and linked with a J-20 stealth fighter.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The compound works, and while her gluttonous binges become increasingly uncontrolled — filmed by James and DP Charlie Sarroff like woozy Francis Bacon images — her weight keeps plummeting.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The civil complaint accuses hospital staff of failing to put a safety clamp on the peripheral IV tubing to prevent uncontrolled flow of D10 into Zendaya and failing to disconnect the IV tubing from Zendaya after the umbilical catheters were placed.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Jada Richard scored 16 points and LSU recorded its seventh consecutive win in a blowout over Alabama.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
-
There seems to be more blowouts this season and a signficant drop off after Sunnyslope and Millennium in boys high school basketball.—
Richard Obert,
AZCentral.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Run away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20away. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
