runway

American  

[ruhn-wey] / ˈrʌnˌweɪ /

noun

1. a way along which something runs.

2. a paved or cleared strip on which planes land and take off.

3. a similar strip on which cars, trucks, or the like may park, load, or enter the stream of traffic.

4. the beaten track or habitual path of deer or other wild animals.

5. a fairly large enclosure in which domestic animals may range about.

   a runway for dogs.

6. the bed of a stream.

7. Bowling. approach.

8. a narrow platform or ramp extending from a stage into the orchestra pit or into an aisle, as in a theater.

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runway British  

/ ˈrʌnˌweɪ /

noun

1. a hard level roadway or other surface from which aircraft take off and on which they land

2. an enclosure for domestic animals; run

3. forestry a chute for sliding logs down

4. a narrow ramp extending from the stage into the audience in a theatre, nightclub, etc, esp as used by models in a fashion show

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Etymology

Origin of runway

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; run + way ¹

Explanation

A runway could be for an airplane or a fashion model. It’s the strip of land a plane uses to take off and land on, or a narrow platform that a model uses to show off the latest fashions. A plane needs a runway of a certain length in order to gather enough speed to take off, and it likewise needs a long enough runway when it lands to slow down and come to a safe stop. Even the very shortest runways are more than 800 feet long — and the world's longest runway, at California's Edwards Air Force Base, is nearly 40,000 feet long. The original meaning of runway was "usual track of an animal."

Example Sentences

In Sasaki’s best starts, the elevated velocity and pitch mix makes the right-hander lethal, giving him extended runway to pitch further into the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Corporate reform momentum is accelerating, lifting return on equity and shareholder returns, with more runway ahead.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

The straight-line edge on one of the newly-made beaches on Antelope Reef suggests China may be building another military-grade runway there, similar to those on Mischief, Fiery Cross and Subi reefs.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

But Marshall sees “a long growth runway for many years to come” and views Palo Alto Networks as “a clear beneficiary” of the AI revolution.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

With a groan, he saw that it had begun rolling down the runway.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz

Related Words

• airstrip
• path
• platform
• ramp
• road
• tarmac