runaway

1 of 3

noun

run·​away ˈrə-nə-ˌwā 

1

: one that runs away from danger, duty, or restraint : fugitive

2

: the act of running away out of control

also : something (such as a horse) that is running out of control

3

: a one-sided or overwhelming victory

runaway

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: running away : fugitive

b

: leaving to gain special advantages (such as lower wages) or avoid disadvantages (such as governmental or union restrictions)

runaway shipping firms

a runaway shop

2

: accomplished by elopement or during flight

3

: won by or having a long lead

a runaway success

also : extremely successful

a runaway bestseller

4

: subject to uncontrolled changes

runaway inflation

5

: being or operating out of control

a runaway oil well

a runaway nuclear reactor

run away

3 of 3

verb

ran away; run away; running away; runs away

intransitive verb

1

a

: to leave quickly in order to avoid or escape something

b

: to leave home

especially : elope

2

: to run out of control : stampede, bolt

3

: to gain a substantial lead : win by a large margin

see also run away with

Synonyms

Adjective

• abandoned
• intemperate
• rampant
• raw
• unbounded
• unbridled
• unchecked
• uncontrolled
• unhampered
• unhindered
• unrestrained

Verb

• abscond
• break out (of)
• clear out
• escape
• flee
• fly
• get out
• lam
• run off

Examples of runaway in a Sentence

Adjective

The play was a runaway success.

a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl

Verb

ran away from an unhappy marriage

the child runs away from large dogs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

How could the pagers been physically modified to explode? Causing a short circuit in a battery to trigger thermal runaway and an explosion with a physical alteration is fairly straight-forward, Pecht said. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024

Supermodel Strut Supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Helena Christensen make the streets of New York their runaway as the two pal around on Sept. 9. —Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Oh, Mary!, Cole Escola’s runaway smash at the Lyceum ($1,105,635, the show’s fifth house record); ; and The Outsiders, the spring’s hit musical at the Jacobs ($1,307,392). —Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2024

The Chiefs are also the runaway ticket and money leader to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy in six years. —Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

Verb

This creates a major internal conflict for Celeste, who develops a nervous stutter except around Shooter and plans to run away with him on the morning of her wedding. —Jordana Comiter, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2024

But Kemp ran away with his reelection bid and remains in power, something Trump complained about in public as recently as last month. —Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

runaway

1 of 3 noun

run·​away ˈrən-ə-ˌwā 

1

: a person who runs away : fugitive

2

: the act of running away out of control

also : something (as a horse) that is running out of control

runaway

2 of 3 adjective

1

: running away : fugitive

2

: being out of control

run away

3 of 3 verb

ˌrən-ə-ˈwā

1

: to leave in a hurry especially to escape from danger or confinement

2

: to leave home