runaway
Americannoun
-
runaways
plural
adjective
-
having run away; escaped; fugitive.
-
(of a horse or other animal) having escaped from the control of the rider or driver.
-
pertaining to or accomplished by running away or eloping.
a runaway marriage.
-
easily won, as a contest.
a runaway victory at the polls.
-
unchecked; rampant.
runaway prices.
-
Informal. deserting or revolting against one's group, duties, expected conduct, or the like, especially to establish or join a rival group, change one's life drastically, etc..
The runaway delegates nominated their own candidate.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of runaway
First recorded in 1505–15; noun, adj. use of verb phrase run away
Explanation
A runaway is a person — often a child or teenager — who leaves home. A runaway is usually unhappy at home, and most runaways have families that are desperate to find them. A kid who grabs some snacks and hides out all night in his neighbor's tree house is one kind of runaway — a more serious runaway is a teenager who hitchhikes to a city and lives on the street or in a shelter. You can also use the word as an adjective to mean "out of control," like a runaway car rolling down a hill with no driver, or a movie that's a runaway success, making more money than anyone thought possible.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Even after the runaway success of its GLP-1 franchise, the company remains laser-focused on its future.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
The town's association with romance dates back to 1754, when changes to marriage laws in England prompted young runaway couples to cross the border into Scotland, where they could marry without needing parental consent.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Abascal's eviction catalysed long-running anger about runaway housing costs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
In the remaining lore, myths recur of episodes of runaway planetary temperature changes, hot and cold, as well as a series of volcanic blasts that changed the globe.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Fighting the desire to runaway, I search for a friendly face to focus on, clear my throat, and start to speak.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
She also had a stuffed kitten named John Grady Cole, the hero’s name in McCarthy’s “The Border Trilogy,” which follows three runaways who have a stolen Colt revolver.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2024
Finch said that since early January, his office has received reports of five runaways from the school.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2024
Police said the boys were runaways from a residential care facility in San Dimas, which is about 46 miles east of Santa Monica.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 8, 2023
Like Fardousa, the 23-year-old ran away from home and found herself immersed in Mogadishu's underground lifestyle consisting of fellow young runaways who have no financial support.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2023
She made the runaways take shelter behind trees at the edge of the fields before she knocked at the door.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
