running away 1 of 2

noun

as in leaving

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running away

2 of 2

verb

present participle of run away
1
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation ran away from an unhappy marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreating
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the child runs away from large dogs

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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 running away
Verb
In the Jurassic movies, characters are mostly reduced to constantly running away, with only bad guys ever fighting back. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 After underperforming for much of this year, financial stocks are now running away as a group, with just about every corner of the sprawling industry offering something compelling for investors. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 The Atlanta Braves are running away with the National League East Division. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Whining, crying, kicking, hitting, flailing, dropping to the floor, holding their breath, going limp, running away or throwing things are all part of the picture. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Roo, who was microchipped, had recently been adopted before getting spooked and running away. — Kat Filardi, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 Surveillance video, however, shows Harris running away as Hicks shoots at him. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026 The rescue comes as shelters across the region prepare for an influx of stray pets following Fourth of July celebrations, when fireworks often frighten dogs into running away from home. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026 According to court records, Sevey allegedly began shooting at a group of four people running away, wounding a male juvenile in the leg. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running away
  1. leaving
  2. escaping
  3. retreating
  4. departure
  5. fleeing
  6. flying
  7. going
  8. getting out
Noun
  • This is because a senior leader's exit, whether by choice or not, affects the business far more than one employee leaving.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The signing of Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise has opened the door for the possibility of the 30-year-old leaving.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of leaving
Verb
  • Wars come and go, Napoleon rises and falls and these two men remain prisoners of a beef neither seems capable of escaping.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jonathan Bowlan allowed a single and a walk in the eighth before escaping with help from Brandon Marsh’s catch of a foul pop amid the fans in left field.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of escaping
Verb
  • It’s made up of nine river rooms and three junior suites, so staying here feels more like retreating to a private waterside residence than checking into a city stay.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Yet some of retail’s fastest-growing companies are not retreating from physical stores.
    — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreating
Noun
  • In 2023, Quality Control was acquired by Hybe America, led by Scooter Braun, before his departure as CEO in July 2025.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Harry and Meghan’s departure reflected both the larger struggle Black Brits and Americans face and the no-contact rifts that increasingly divide many families.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of departure
Verb
  • On top of that, the Iranian airspace was closed to all flights during the bombings and Iranians were fleeing the country.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jacobo stopped the attack and approached Overstreet before fleeing to his car, prosecutors said.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fleeing
Verb
  • On the other is a relief depiction of a Kremlin in flames, with a drone flying over it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Over the coming months, avionics, scientific instruments and thermal insulation will gradually transform the frame into the flying science laboratory destined for the outer solar system.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of flying
Noun
  • The rookies on defense have shown signs of belonging in the early going.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Combined, the family’s offer topped $26 million, well above the roughly $6,000-an-acre going rate for farmland in the county.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of going
Verb
  • Oil is getting out of the strait – but the number is closer to 4 million barrels per day, according to JPMorgan.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • So, just getting out here, spreading the love of the game, and having some fun doing it.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of getting out

Browse Nearby Words

running amok
running away
running by
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Cite this Entry

“Running away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20away. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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