RUNS AWAY Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

runs away

verb

present tense third-person singular of run away

as in escapes

to get free from a dangerous or confining situation ran away from an unhappy marriage

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in retreats

to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the child runs away from large dogs

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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 runs away Best gets out of the vehicle, then runs away with police chasing after him. — Dave Collins, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026 The title refers to a story-fable about a horse that runs away, only to turn up at a time of crisis. — Hillel Italie, Fortune, 1 June 2026 Garcia runs away screaming toward a third officer and drops the stick before he’s pushed down into a bed of bushes growing along the street curb. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 Following the shooting, the individual jumps from a rooftop and runs away from the location. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 The organ is dropped on the floor and a dog in the waiting room, who'd accidentally consumed marijuana, snaps it up and runs away with it. — Ana Calderone, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025 In this fluffy romance novel, burnt out pop star Amelia Rose runs away in the middle of the night to the Hallmark-worthy town of Rome. — Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026 Their away form is a conundrum for Howe, who, at different times, has presided over a Newcastle team that has gone on both long unbeaten and winless runs away from St James’ Park. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025 In this delightfully science-minded historical fiction novel, one of the main characters runs away from her family to do astronomy while the other clocks up multiple major scientific expeditions under her belt. — Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for runs away

Verb

In this year’s survey, more than 661,000 votes were cast—on city and island escapes, safari outfitters, airlines, and hotels around the world.

— Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
California has laws in place regarding driving vehicles with load that escapes from it and what types of items can be carried and how.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of escapes

Verb

When Aries pushes harder, Cancer retreats further, and neither feels understood.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
As natural gas output partially retreats, global seaborne coal shipments to the region have risen, even if China and India are insourcing more domestic coal.

— Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Definition of retreats

Verb

Dunn, having none of it, stabs Dickie 20 times with a broken liquor bottle–with pants around his ankles, no less–while Alma flees out a window.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
With no idea what's going on, Dylan flees the FBC to find that the Hiss — otherworldly crimson monsters from another dimension — have overrun Manhattan.

— George Yang, Space.com, 22 June 2026

Definition of flees

Verb

The source also described an incident involving a helicopter pilot who regularly flies to a residence in the restricted zone.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Opportunities worth fighting for Esters, a 64-year-old retired clay sculptor for a Detroit automaker, flies three American flags at his Sherwood Forest home on the city’s west side.

— Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

Definition of flies

Verb

While the husky works to protect the child, the boy runs off-frame in search of safety.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of runs off

Verb

There is almost no modern precedent (Steven Speilberg runs Amblin, a production company, not a studio arm.

— Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
The companies have so far reached settlements worth nearly $58 billion, according to a tally kept by Christine Minhee, who runs Opioid Settlement Tracker.

— Sarah Liese, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of runs

Verb

This episode, Zack wakes up and bolts upright with the bandage still on his head from getting clobbered with a sign on his birthday and can’t remember what happened the night before.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 July 2026
When spinach bolts, the plant focuses its energy on producing flowers and seeds rather than leaves.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of bolts

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runs amok

runs away

runs by

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“Runs away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runs%20away. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of runs away

verb

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