runaway
runaway — adjective
1. describes a person or an animal that has escaped from a place where they were be
describes a person or an animal that has escaped from a place where they were being kept or supervised
Police caught the runaway inmates near the river three hours later.
attributive before noun (person)
A runaway horse was seen galloping along the highway yesterday morning.
attributive before noun (animal)
Local news reported that the runaway teenager was found at a bus station.
Zookeepers tracked the runaway leopard through the forest using drones.
文法句型
runaway + noun (person/animal)
用法筆記
Attributive only — do not use after a linking verb (❌ The horse was runaway).
常見錯誤
2. describes a vehicle, machine, or process that has become impossible to control o
describes a vehicle, machine, or process that has become impossible to control or stop
A runaway truck crashed through the safety barrier on the mountain road.
attributive before noun (vehicle)
The factory shut down after a runaway chemical reaction in the lab.
Economists warned that runaway inflation could hurt ordinary families the most.
The runaway train sped down the slope before anyone could stop it.
- out-of-control
more general, can be used predicatively (the car was out of control)
- uncontrollable
emphasises the inability to manage the situation
- controlled
kept within limits or managed effectively
- manageable
able to be handled or directed
文法句型
runaway + noun (vehicle/process/economic force)
用法筆記
Attributive only. Also used figuratively for events or processes that move too quickly to manage (runaway inflation, runaway costs).
常見錯誤
3. describes a product, show, or business that becomes extremely and surprisingly s
describes a product, show, or business that becomes extremely and surprisingly successful in a very short time
The small bakery became a runaway success within three months of opening.
attributive before 'success'
Her debut novel was a runaway best-seller in twelve different countries.
What began as a school project turned into a runaway hit on social media.
The company's new wireless speaker was a runaway success at the global launch.
- sensational
informal, emphasises how exciting or impressive the success is
- meteoric
describes a rise or success that happens very fast, like a meteor shooting across the sky
- modest
small in amount, size, or success
- disappointing
failing to meet expectations
文法句型
runaway + success / hit / best-seller
用法筆記
Attributive only. Almost always appears before success, hit, or best-seller. The surprise element is central — it is not used for expected achievements.
常見錯誤
runaway — noun
1. a person, especially a child or teenager, who has left their home or a place of
a person, especially a child or teenager, who has left their home or a place of care without permission
The shelter provides warm meals and counseling for teenage runaways in the area.
countable noun with 'for'
Social workers found the runaway sleeping under a bridge near the highway.
Many runaways end up living on the streets without any family support.
A twelve-year-old runaway was found at the central train station last night.
- returnee
a person who has come back home
- stay-at-home
informal; someone who remains at home
文法句型
a + runaway
teenage runaway
用法筆記
When referring to young people, 'runaway' often implies that they left due to family problems or difficult circumstances. The plural 'runaways' is common in social-work and news contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a race, competition, or election in which the winner wins by a very large and ob
a race, competition, or election in which the winner wins by a very large and obvious margin
The incumbent party won the election in a runaway, taking over seventy percent of the vote.
noun with 'in a runaway'
The championship game was a runaway, with the home team leading by thirty points.
No one expected the tennis final to become such a runaway for the young newcomer.
The basketball match turned into a runaway after the star player got injured.
- nail-biter
informal; a very close contest
- draw
a tied game with no winner
文法句型
a + runaway
用法筆記
Most common in sports reporting and election coverage. 'Landslide' is a more frequent synonym in political contexts.
常見錯誤
runaway — verb
1. to escape from a dangerous or unpleasant situation by leaving a place very quick
to escape from a dangerous or unpleasant situation by leaving a place very quickly
The passengers had to runaway from the burning building through the emergency exit.
runaway + from + noun phrase (place)
Many residents tried to runaway from the rising floodwaters by moving uphill.
The witness wanted to runaway from the courtroom before the trial began.
Sofie decided to runaway from the boring party without saying goodbye to anyone.
文法句型
runaway + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
This verb is much less common than 'run away' (two words). In modern English, 'run away from' (two-word phrasal verb) is the preferred form. 'Runaway' as a single-word verb appears mainly in Merriam-Webster and is considered rare in everyday use.
常見錯誤
2. to leave one's family and home suddenly, especially as a young person, without t
to leave one's family and home suddenly, especially as a young person, without telling anyone
Lara runaway from home at sixteen after months of conflict with her parents.
runaway + from home
The teenager threatened to runaway if her phone was taken away again.
Ravindra runaway from his small village to look for work in the capital city.
Kenji runaway after his stepfather became violent at home every night.
- leave home
neutral, everyday phrase for moving out of the family home
- abscond
formal; to leave secretly, often to avoid legal trouble
- return home
to come back to one's family
- stay put
informal; to remain in place
文法句型
runaway (no object)
用法筆記
The two-word form 'run away' (inflected: run away, ran away, running away) is far more common in everyday English, especially for this sense of leaving home. The single-word verb 'runaway' is a dictionary entry found mainly in Merriam-Webster.
常見錯誤
3. when an animal or a group of animals suddenly start running in a wild, uncontrol
when an animal or a group of animals suddenly start running in a wild, uncontrolled way, usually because they are frightened
The horses runaway when a snake suddenly appeared near the fence.
intransitive verb (animal subject)
The herd of cattle runaway across the field after hearing a loud bang.
The elephants runaway through the camp after the fireworks went off.
A group of deer runaway into the forest when the hunters approached the clearing.
- graze
to eat grass calmly in a field
- stand still
to remain motionless
文法句型
runaway (no object)
用法筆記
The two-word form 'run away' is far more common. 'Runaway' as a single-word verb in this sense is rare and may sound archaic. 'Bolt' or 'stampede' are more natural alternatives.
常見錯誤
4. to win a competition, race, or election by a very large margin, leaving opponent
to win a competition, race, or election by a very large margin, leaving opponents far behind
The home team runaway with the championship title for the third consecutive year.
runaway + with + noun phrase
Andrew's horse runaway from the rest of the pack in the final two hundred meters.
The young candidate runaway with the election, defeating the veteran by a huge margin.
The visiting team runaway with the trophy after an amazing performance in the final game.
- dominate
to control or win easily; broader application beyond sports
- run away with
the standard phrasal verb for winning easily; more common than single-word 'runaway'
- lose narrowly
to be defeated by a small margin
- struggle
to have difficulty winning
文法句型
runaway + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
This verb sense typically takes 'with' (runaway with the game/title/victory). The two-word phrasal verb 'run away with' is the more common form. The single-word 'runaway' as a verb is chiefly a dictionary entry from Merriam-Webster.