getaway

American  

[get-uh-wey] / ˈgɛt əˌweɪ /

noun

1. a getting away or fleeing; an escape.

2. the start of a race.

   a fast getaway.

3. a place where one escapes for relaxation, vacation, etc., or a period of time for such recreation.

   a little seaside getaway; a two-week getaway in the Bahamas.

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adjective

1. used as a means of escape or fleeing.

   a stolen getaway car.

2. used for occasional relaxation, retreat, or reclusion.

   a weekend getaway house.

Etymology

Origin of getaway

First recorded in 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase get away

Explanation

A getaway is a speedy escape, like the getaway bank robbers make when they flee the crime scene in a car. The word getaway is so often used for fleeing criminals that it's also a way to describe the vehicle they use: "Follow that getaway car!" A completely different type of getaway is a vacation, like your family's weekend getaway to the Catskills last summer. The "escape" meaning is older, and it originally referred to foxes that eluded hunters.

Example Sentences

The jokester revealed that he initially came across the pad when he was living in the hustle and bustle of New York City and wanted a peaceful getaway.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Travelers face sky-high costs for a summer getaway, especially if they are flying to their destinations.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The recent fourth season of “Mormon Wives” revisits the crossover, with some of the women’s spouses partaking in their own “Villa” getaway that fuels more drama, including between Mortensen and Paul.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

That’s what I think of as a weekend-ish getaway.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Or worse—she’s been planning this getaway for months, and the postcards were part of her carefully plotted exit strategy.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller