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
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2025
State Water Project allocations are updated monthly and rely on snowpack, rainfall and runoff assessments, a DWR spokesperson told Newsweek.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
The demonstrator, who had a slim build and was clad all in black, ran off.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
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Noun
McCann, the only major Republican in the primary, easily gained the most votes in advancing to the runoff.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2025
State Water Project allocations are updated monthly and rely on snowpack, rainfall and runoff assessments, a DWR spokesperson told Newsweek.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
The Dodgers went into the Wrigley Field crowd after a fan ran off with Chad Kreuter’s cap in the ninth inning of a 6-5 victory.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
The demonstrator, who had a slim build and was clad all in black, ran off.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 16 May 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 24 May. 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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