running away 1 of 2

noun

as in leaving

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

running away

2 of 2

verb

present participle of run away
1
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation ran away from an unhappy marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreating
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the child runs away from large dogs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of running away
Verb
Security camera footage shows the shocking moment flood water crashes through the Nepal-China border area, with people seen running away as the water appears to wipe out everything in its path. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 After nine consecutive losses against the Minnesota Lynx, the Valkyries finally broke through on Monday night in Minneapolis, setting the tone early and running away with the game late in the fourth quarter en route to a 80-66 win. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026 According to police, Moore then dragged one of the women along the street before running away. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Video shows the group, wearing overalls, pulling themselves out from underground and running away. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 This may cause a person to feel like running away or fighting back—flight or fight. — Michele Patterson Ford, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2026 While the previous games were stealth-focused, Sophia is more aggressive and ready to fight her pursuers rather than just running away. — ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026 In the Jurassic movies, characters are mostly reduced to constantly running away, with only bad guys ever fighting back. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 After underperforming for much of this year, financial stocks are now running away as a group, with just about every corner of the sprawling industry offering something compelling for investors. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running away
  1. leaving
  2. escaping
  3. retreating
  4. departure
  5. fleeing
  6. flying
  7. going
  8. getting out
Noun
  • Officers responded to a call about shots fired a few blocks away from Beale Street and saw a person armed with a gun leaving, said Memphis police.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Are there concerns in the club over Hughes and his leaving, and the effect of that on the planning and way this summer transfer window has gone?
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of leaving
Verb
  • The film, which will include stop-motion animation and live-action sequences, is an adaptation of Shane Jones’ cult novel exploring the tension between escaping war through imagination and confronting its reality.
    — Alexandra Patterson, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The tiny, colorful birds will spend winter in Mexico and Central America, escaping the cold and snow in Michigan, before returning in spring 2027.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of escaping
Verb
  • Stepping into the public sphere rather than retreating became both a survival strategy and a refuge—an assertion of political and artistic self-determination.
    — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The player reported that the man had opened a knife and moved toward him before retreating into his room.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreating
Noun
  • Katseye’s departure from Daisy Chain Fields comes while the group, which debuted as a six-member group, remains down two singers.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Compared, say, with the 1990s here, the suite of departures to points near and far is formidable.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of departure
Verb
  • Survivors find shelter in Kathmandu Some flood survivors are fleeing the devastation to seek shelter in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In past months, he has been charged with second-degree kidnapping, fleeing elude police, firearm charges and assault charges.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleeing
Verb
  • Grichuk put a good swing on a slider while flying out to left field.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It was later revealed that the plane had been overloaded by 700 pounds and the pilot, who had cocaine and alcohol in his system, was not authorized to be flying, according to CBS.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of flying
Noun
  • Mayhugh in Baltimore says her job search, now in its seventh month, has been slow-going.
    — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The iconic pop star kept the color scheme going, covering her platinum blonde hair with a matching lilac silk headscarf that was blooming with floral patterns.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of going
Verb
  • Billy Ray is getting out ahead of the story, and framing the name change as a reflection of Miley’s place in the pop firmament.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Not long afterward, two dozen Border Patrol agents descended on Roosevelt High School as class was getting out, prompting a confrontation in which the agents deployed pepper spray and arrested four people, including a teacher.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of getting out

Browse Nearby Words

running amok
running away
running by
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Running away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20away. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All