Standard Lemma guide

runaway

adj · noun · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɹʌnəweɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R AH1 N AH0 W EY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having run away; escaped; fugitive; fleeting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a runaway thief

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having run away; escaped; fugitive; fleeting.

Having escaped from the control of the rider or driver.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a runaway donkey

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Having run away; escaped; fugitive; fleeting.

Pertaining to or accomplished by running away or eloping.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a runaway marriage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Easily won, as a contest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a runaway victory at the polls

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Accelerating out of control.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a runaway train
  • a runaway greenhouse effect

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Unchecked; rampant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • runaway prices

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adj

Meaning 7

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, not-comparable

Examples

  • The runaway delegates nominated their own candidate.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Runaways are vulnerable to criminal exploitation.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A vehicle (especially, a train) that is out of control.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

An object or process that is out of control or out of equilibrium.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: attributive, figuratively, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

The act of running away, especially of a horse or teams.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

An overwhelming victory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • The home side won in a runaway.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

adjective satellite

Meaning 13

completely out of control

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • runaway inflation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

an easy victory

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blowout, romp, laugher, shoo-in, walkaway

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: victory, triumph

15

noun

Meaning 15

someone who flees from an uncongenial situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • fugitives from the sweatshops

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fugitive, fleer

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

History

Etymology

Deverbal from run away.

Across languages

Translations

85 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bengali: ফেরার (ferar) — having run away
  • Bulgarian: избягал (izbjagal) — having run away
  • Esperanto: fuĝinta — having run away
  • Esperanto: forfuĝinta — having run away
  • Esperanto: eskapinta — having run away
  • Finnish: karannut — having run away
  • German: entlaufen — having run away
  • German: davongelaufen — having run away
  • German: weggerannt — having run away
  • German: davongerannt — having run away
  • Hungarian: szökött — having run away
  • Hungarian: elszökött — having run away
  • Hungarian: szökésben lévő — having run away
  • Italian: scappato — having run away
  • Italian: fuggito — having run away
  • Italian: sfuggito — having run away
  • Latin: fugitīvus — having run away
  • Polish: uciekający — having run away
  • Portuguese: fugido — having run away
  • Portuguese: fugitivo — having run away
  • Esperanto: senbrida — unchecked; rampant
  • Esperanto: senrega — unchecked; rampant
  • Finnish: hillitön — unchecked; rampant
  • German: außer Kontrolle geraten — unchecked; rampant
  • German: aus dem Ruder gelaufen — unchecked; rampant
  • German: außer Rand und Band geraten — unchecked; rampant
  • German: unkontrolliert — unchecked; rampant
  • Hungarian: elszabadult — unchecked; rampant
  • Italian: imbizzarrito — unchecked; rampant
  • Polish: niekontrolowany — unchecked; rampant
  • Portuguese: desgarrado — unchecked; rampant
  • Portuguese: desgovernado — unchecked; rampant
  • Spanish: desbocado — unchecked; rampant
  • Esperanto: dizerta — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • Finnish: karkuri- — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • German: abtrünnig — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • Italian: dissidente — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • Italian: dissenziente — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • Polish: dysydencki — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • Portuguese: dissidente — deserting or revolting against one's group, etc.
  • Arabic: آبِق (ʔābiq) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Azerbaijani: qaçaq — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Bulgarian: беглец (beglec) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Finnish: karkulainen — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Finnish: karkuri — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • French: fugitif — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • French: fugueur — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • German: Ausreißer — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • German: Entflohener — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • German: Entlaufener — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Greek: δραπέτης (drapétis) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Greek: δραπέτις fn (drapétis) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Ancient Greek: δραπέτης (drapétēs) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Ancient Greek: δραπέτις (drapétis) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Ancient Greek: φυγάς (phugás) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Hungarian: szökevény — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Italian: fuggiasco — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Latin: fugitīvus — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Polish: uciekinier — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Polish: uciekinierka — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Romanian: fugar — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Russian: бегле́ц (begléc) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Spanish: fugitivo — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Swedish: rymling — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Ottoman Turkish: قاچاق (kaçak) — a person or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions
  • Finnish: karannut juna — a train that is out of control
  • Italian: fuori controllo — a train that is out of control
  • Italian: impazzito — a train that is out of control
  • Italian: inarrestabile — a train that is out of control
  • Italian: ingovernabile — a train that is out of control
  • Polish: niekontrolowany pociąg — a train that is out of control
  • Portuguese: desgarrado — a train that is out of control
  • Portuguese: desgovernado — a train that is out of control
  • Romanian: scăpat de sub control — a train that is out of control
  • Dutch: losgeslagen — an object or process that is out of control
  • Dutch: op hol geslagen — an object or process that is out of control
  • Finnish: karkulainen — an object or process that is out of control
  • French: emballement — an object or process that is out of control
  • Italian: fuggifuggi — an object or process that is out of control
  • Polish: niekontrolowana rzecz — an object or process that is out of control
  • Urdu: بے قابو (be qābo) — an object or process that is out of control
  • Bulgarian: разгром (razgrom) — overwhelming victory
  • Finnish: murskavoitto — overwhelming victory
  • Hungarian: kirobbanó győzelem/siker — overwhelming victory
  • Polish: miażdżące zwycięstwo — overwhelming victory