A getaway is an escape or a quick trip away from your usual routine. When your family plans a weekend getaway to the mountains, you're leaving home temporarily for rest and adventure. People take getaways to beaches, cabins, or cities they've never visited, seeking a break from everyday life.

The word also describes the act of escaping, especially from danger or after committing a crime. In movies, you'll often see a getaway car waiting outside a bank with its engine running, ready to speed criminals away from the scene. Police might chase suspects trying to make their getaway through crowded streets.

The escape meaning gives the word its flavor even in innocent contexts. When you head off on a family getaway, there's a sense of breaking free: leaving behind homework, chores, and alarm clocks. A successful getaway means you've managed to slip away from whatever was holding you in place, whether that's responsibilities, danger, or just the same old routine.