running away 1 of 2

noun

as in leaving

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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

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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 running away
Verb
The department recommends speaking calmly and firmly rather than running away. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Nini, who was last seen running away, and Malcolm the tabby cat, who's still unaccounted for. — Megan Shinn, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 One of the most notable moments — and the scene apparently being filmed — was a sequence of shots showing the three bandmembers running away from swarps of adoring fans. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026 But, according to Jazmin, Nora had jumped out of the car at an intersection and started running away. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 After two shots, the bear reportedly rose and began running away. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026 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 Video shows the group, wearing overalls, pulling themselves out from underground and running away. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 24 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
  • By Tuesday night, more than 800 people had signed it, according to the petition, with 26 leaving comments.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of leaving
Verb
  • The agency gets the images within 48 hours, then sends out notices to landfill and oil and gas operators when methane is seen escaping.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Purdy has been brilliant at moving within and escaping the pocket.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of escaping
Verb
  • Gabriel Moreno hit an RBI single in the fourth and, after Kyle Hart walked the bases loaded in the sixth, Perdomo cleared them with a double that bounced off the glove of retreating center fielder Jackson Merrill and then off the padded fence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The brand has been retreating by the month back to its roots in Florida.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of retreating
Noun
  • The departures show Meta is still shaping its strategy around AI and AI safety amid new calls for regulation in Washington.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The group formally processed the vessel’s departure and was trying to avoid violating Panamanian law.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of departure
Verb
  • In 2009, two Israeli tank shells exploded immediately outside Al-Fakhoora, which was crowded with families fleeing an Israeli ground offensive.
    — Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As expected, the animals became anxious, either fleeing the threatening odor or freezing in place.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of fleeing
Verb
  • Bombers flying from South Dakota to targets in Iran would cost more in fuel and flying time than those taking off from England's Cotswolds region, which is 3,900 miles closer to Tehran.
    — Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Experts who study bats say that, although residents should practice caution, the odds of getting rabies from the flying creatures remain very low.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of flying
Noun
  • Ted gives her a going-away present, which seems to be a whistle in a red box, meaning she has been promoted to Head Coach of the Lady Greyhounds.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Nobody is more confident working with the Kings than Colter, whose swagger and comfort with bursts of goofiness are well-deployed, albeit with less emotional range in the early-going.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of going
Verb
  • And while more oil is getting out, freedom of navigation in Hormuz has not been restored, McNally said.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But surveillance footage reviewed by another deputy showed the Mustang arriving at the parking lot without anyone getting out before deputies arrived, per the citation.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of getting out

Browse Nearby Words

running amok
running away
running by
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Cite this Entry

“Running away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20away. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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