Synonyms of run away

run away 1 of 3

verb

1

as in to escape

to get free from a dangerous or confining situation

ran away from an unhappy marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• escape
• flee
• run off
• fly
• get out
• break free
• leave
• clear out
• break out (of)
• abscond
• avoid
• move
• walk out
• pull out
• go
• sally (forth)
• evade
• lose
• lam
• exit
• take off
• depart
• elude
• shun
• shove (off)
• quit
• rescue
• bring off
• elope
• liberate
• disentangle
• release
• extricate
• spring
• decamp
• free
• loose
• loosen
• redeem
• emancipate
• enfranchise
• unbind
• manumit
• unfetter
• uncage
• unchain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remain
• stay
• dwell
• linger
• hang around
• abide
• stick around
• come back
• return
• tarry

2

as in to retreat

to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

the child runs away from large dogs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retreat
• flee
• fly
• bolt
• run
• run off
• escape
• bug out
• beat a retreat
• turn tail
• hightail (it)
• break
• beat it
• make tracks
• get (away)
• get out
• skedaddle
• skip (out)
• light out
• make off
• clear out
• skirr
• abscond
• decamp
• elope
• scram
• lam
• scat
• scarper
• mizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• face
• confront
• dare
• beard
• defy
• remain
• stay
• brave
• dwell
• linger
• hang around
• abide
• stick around
• tarry

runaway

2 of 3

adjective

as in rampant

showing no signs of being under control

a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rampant
• uncontrolled
• unbridled
• unchecked
• abandoned
• unrestrained
• unbounded
• intemperate
• unhindered
• raw
• uncontrollable
• unhampered
• ungovernable
• riotous
• wild
• uninhibited
• barbaric
• hog wild

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controlled
• hampered
• checked
• hindered
• restrained
• constrained
• governed
• temperate
• moderate
• curbed
• bridled
• tempered

runaway

3 of 3

noun

as in sweep

Related Words

• sweep
• blowout
• landslide
• capture
• romp
• conquest
• subjugation
• walkaway
• victory
• laugher
• win
• vanquishing
• mastery
• success
• triumph
• walkover
• palm
• shutout
• takeover
• squeaker

Dissimilar Words

• loss
• defeat
• beating
• whipping
• overthrow
• rout
• trimming
• failure
• upset
• disaster
• licking
• collapse
• washout
• decline
• debacle
• flop
• drubbing
• slump
• slip
• shellacking
• wane
• setback
• fizzle
• lurch
• nonsuccess

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of run away

Verb

The coming-of-age drama, Hidalgo’s third fiction film, follows two 12-year-old girls who are forced to run away from their homes after a traumatic incident. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 13 July 2026

Paintballs, which are already used to drive away bears, sting the animals when they are hit, prompting them to run away, Tira said. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026

Adjective

Since the makeover, the pool has been fraught with problems, from runaway algae growth to dead ducks and a torn lining. — Gary Fields, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

Gas flowing from the expanding red giant gradually accumulates on the white dwarf until conditions become extreme enough to ignite a runaway nuclear reaction. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Noun

The agency states these incidents can occur due to the overheating that power banks and similar devices experience as a result of a process called thermal runaway. — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026

High-voltage lithium-ion battery systems that power electric vehicles are especially prone to thermal runaway if damaged, which can produce intense heat, toxic gases and prolonged fire conditions requiring specialized firefighting and hazardous materials personnel to control the incident. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026