1
a
: a beaten path made by animals
b
: a passageway for animals
2
: a paved strip of ground on a landing field for the landing and takeoff of aircraft
3
a
: a narrow platform from a stage into an auditorium
b
: a platform along which models walk in a fashion show
4
5
: the area or path along which a jumper, pole-vaulter, or javelin thrower runs
Examples of runway in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There were 10 near-miss runway collisions from late 2022 to early 2023, according to a National Airspace System safety review report.
—
Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2024
Five people aboard a Japan Coast Guard turboprop lost their lives in early January when the plane ventured onto the runway path of an incoming Airbus A350.
—Jinshan Hong, TIME, 24 May 2024
The Cannes Film Festival in France has a red carpet that actors, singers, and stars alike used as their runway.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 24 May 2024
Measuring 30 feet long by 15 feet wide, the plane features a lifting body and innovative wings that enable it to land on a runway in the style of NASA’s now defunct space shuttle.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for runway 
Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2024
Five people aboard a Japan Coast Guard turboprop lost their lives in early January when the plane ventured onto the runway path of an incoming Airbus A350.
—Jinshan Hong, TIME, 24 May 2024
The Cannes Film Festival in France has a red carpet that actors, singers, and stars alike used as their runway.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 24 May 2024
Measuring 30 feet long by 15 feet wide, the plane features a lifting body and innovative wings that enable it to land on a runway in the style of NASA’s now defunct space shuttle.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for runway
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'runway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Runway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runway. Accessed 7 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runway
noun
run·way
ˈrən-ˌwā 
2
: a paved strip of ground (as at an airport) for the landing and takeoff of aircraft
3
: a support (as a track, pipe, or trough) on which something runs
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