1
: a final race, contest, or election to decide an earlier one that has not resulted in a decision in favor of any one competitor
2
: the portion of precipitation on land that ultimately reaches streams often with dissolved or suspended material
ran off; run off; running off; runs off
1
a
: to recite, compose, or produce rapidly
b
: to cause to be run or played to a finish
c
: to decide (a race) by a runoff
d
2
: to drain off : draw off
3
a
: to drive off (someone, such as a trespasser)
b
: to steal (animals, such as cattle) by driving away
see also run off with
Examples of runoff in a Sentence
Verb
the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property
their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
However, by the late 1920s, the river was once again polluted by industrial and human runoff and was deemed unsafe for swimming.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Upon touching down, the plane did not have sufficient runway to stop and ran off the end of the runway.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
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Noun
Republican businessman Jason Dickerson beat Democrat Debra Shigley in the Tuesday runoff after no candidate in a seven-person field won a majority to take the seat outright in August.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
However, by the late 1920s, the river was once again polluted by industrial and human runoff and was deemed unsafe for swimming.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Eagles then ran off 16 wins over its next 17 games, capped by a Super Bowl win.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Upon touching down, the plane did not have sufficient runway to stop and ran off the end of the runway.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
Cite this Entry
“Runoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runoff. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runoff
1 of 2 noun
run·off
ˈrən-ˌȯf 
1
: a final contest or election to decide an earlier one that has not given the victory to one competitor
2
: water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams
run off
2 of 2 verbˈrən-ˈȯf,
ˌrən-
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