run out

verb

ran out; run out; running out; runs out

intransitive verb

1
a
: to come to an end : expire
time ran out
b
: to become exhausted or used up
the gasoline ran out
2
: to jut out

transitive verb

1
a
: to finish out (a course, a series, a contest, etc.) : complete
b
of a baseball batter : to run hard to first base after hitting (a batted ball)
ran out the grounder
2
a
: to fill out (a typeset line) with quads, leaders, or ornaments
b
: to set (a line of text, such as the first line of a paragraph) with a hanging indention
3
: to exhaust (oneself) in running
4
: to cause to leave by force or coercion : expel
Phrases
run out of
: to use up the available supply of
ran out of time
run out on
: desert

Examples of run out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Don’t run out of gas on the Autobahn On Germany’s Autobahn, driving fast is allowed; running out of gas is not. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 Grant termination used to be a much rarer occurrence, reserved for more extreme circumstances such as some kind of ethical breech or an agency running out of money. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 Richie has run out of patience, so he's sent his thugs to capture Eddie. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025 While there, the family got a tour of Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs play, and even got to run out of the tunnel where the players do. Jordan Greene, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for run out

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of run out was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Run out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run%20out. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

run out

verb
1
: to come to an end : expire
time ran out before we could tie the game
2
: to become exhausted or used up
our supplies were running out

More from Merriam-Webster on run out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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