Definitions

on the lam

ADJECTIVE

fugitive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

elusive

STRONG

brief ephemeral flying passing short temporary volatile wandering

WEAK

avoiding errant erratic escaping evading evanescent fleeting flitting fugacious impermanent momentary moving short-lived transitory unstable

Antonyms

STRONG

enduring lasting lengthy long permanent

WEAK

confronting facing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He got nabbed after almost 14 years on the lam, some of them spent teaching scuba in Egypt.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

Monkeys on the lam in St. Louis and AI isn’t helping.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

The suspected leaker is believed to be a Chinese national who has moved back to China and is now on the lam, South Korean officials say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

They went on the lam to Chicago, Florida, and Arizona, and points in between.

From Slate • Dec. 18, 2024

By the way he was acting I was starting to think that maybe Lefty Lewis was on the lam too.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis