1
as in to escape
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 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
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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
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Hailey Buzbee is listed as a runaway by the Fishers Police Department.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 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
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
Hailey Buzbee is listed as a runaway by the Fishers Police Department.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run away
Verb
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Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver who, while searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) body, gets swallowed and must find a way to escape.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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Set in 1977, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the thriller details Armando and his son in their efforts to escape the country in the midst of political turmoil.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index retreated nearly 2%, leading losses in the region.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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The agents ultimately retreated without bringing Pretti into custody.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This rises to 73% of those in tech roles, where layoffs have been most rampant.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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Given rampant grade inflation, an internship can be the most important differentiator for recent graduate hiring.—
Brandon Busteed,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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No one was injured, and the suspects fled before deputies arrived.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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Other offenses include fleeing from police, escaping from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, theft, trespassing and giving police a false name.—
Tom Olsen,
Twin Cities,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is like ignoring weather conditions when flying an airplane.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Narcotraffickers have recruited a number of couriers to fly to Miami and other cities to set up phony businesses with corporate bank accounts, authorities say.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Unlike autonomous cars which operate on public roads and uncontrolled environments, agriculture occurs on private land where everything is more controlled, which minimizes regulatory hurdles and potential for accidents.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Razorbacks overcame a six-point hole at halftime with the Red Raiders and battled back from 21 points down to the Cougars to escape a blowout.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Jan. 2026
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Elias Lindholm, who left Saturday’s blowout as a precaution because of a nagging injury, was back in the lineup.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Run away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20away. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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