# runaway

/ˈɹənəˌweɪ/ (US) · /ɹˈʌnəwˌeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/runaway
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a person who left home

noun · CEFR B2

someone, usually a young person, who leaves their home or family without permission.

For teachers: a person, typically a minor, who has left their home or place of residence without parental or guardian consent.

- The police found the runaway at the train station and took him home safely.
- Social workers often encounter runaways who have fled difficult domestic situations in search of independence in the city.

### 2. out of control

adjective · CEFR B2

moving or happening very quickly in a way that cannot be stopped.

For teachers: characterised by rapid, unchecked increase or movement that has escaped human or mechanical control.

- The truck became a runaway vehicle after its brakes failed on the steep hill.
- Economists expressed deep concern over runaway inflation, which threatened to devalue the national currency within a matter of months.

### 3. an easy victory

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describes a win or success that is very easy and happens by a large amount.

For teachers: denoting a victory or success achieved easily and by a substantial margin.

- The team had a runaway victory, winning the game by forty points.
- After the early polls closed, it became clear that the incumbent was heading for a runaway success in the local elections.

### 4. leaving a group

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

leaving a group or job suddenly to do something different or join a rival.

For teachers: deserting or revolting against a group or established duties, often to join a competing faction.

- The runaway members of the party decided to start their own political group.
- The company struggled to contain the damage after a runaway executive leaked trade secrets to their primary competitor.

## Examples

- The new app is a runaway success.
- The company became a runaway leader in the electric vehicle market after its latest launch.
- The candidate's runaway victory in the primary election signaled a decisive shift in the party's direction.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.