runaway

American  

[ruhn-uh-wey] / ˈrʌn əˌweɪ /

noun

1. a person who runs away; fugitive; deserter.

2. a horse or team that has broken away from control.

3. the act of running away.

4. a decisive or easy victory.

5. a young person, especially a teenager, who has run away from home.

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adjective

1. having run away; escaped; fugitive.

2. (of a horse or other animal) having escaped from the control of the rider or driver.

3. pertaining to or accomplished by running away or eloping.

   a runaway marriage.

4. easily won, as a contest.

   a runaway victory at the polls.

   Synonyms:

   complete, absolute

5. unchecked; rampant.

   runaway prices.

6. 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.

Etymology

Origin of runaway

First recorded in 1505–15; noun, adj. use of verb phrase run away

Example Sentences

AI-generated tracks regularly go viral, such as the runaway success of an AI cover of Belgian musician Stromae's "Papaoutai" at the end of January.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

That debate would have triggered a discussion about the cost of runaway benefits, which would have reined in the size of benefit checks long ago.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

The runaway success of Messy may have eclipsed her other songs, but she shouldn't be seen as a one-hit wonder.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Meanwhile, a runaway slave shows up out back, pursued by hounds, having heard that the Van Lew house is the place to run for help.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

I toss the runaway sprout to Emma, who catches it with a giggle and wipes her eyes on her sleeve.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• rampant
• unbridled
• unchecked
• uncontrolled
• unrestrained