weggelopen

Weggelopen is the past participle of the Dutch verb weglopen, meaning to run away or escape. It is used to describe someone or something that has left a place without permission or fled from custody, care, or supervision. The word can function as a verb form in perfect tenses and as an adjective.

Etymology and grammar: Weglopen combines weg (away) with lopen (to walk/run). The past participle is weggelopen and is typically used with the auxiliary hebben or zijn depending on the construction; in the common periphrase with the perfect tense it is usually with zijn: Hij is weggelopen. As an adjective, it can describe a person or animal that has escaped, for example, een weggelopen patiënt or een weggelopen hond.

Usage contexts: The term appears frequently in news reports, hospital or care settings, schools, and law enforcement contexts. It can describe a patient who has left a hospital without discharge, a minor who has run away, a detainee who escaped, or a pet that has slipped away from home. While it often carries a negative or concerning connotation, it can be used descriptively without judgment.

Related terms: Synonyms include vluchten, ontsnappen, and ontkomen. The verb itself is weglopen, with weggelopen as its past participle. The concept is closely tied to issues of safety, responsibility, and custody in Dutch usage.