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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Created with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, the statewide program is accepting applications until its funds run out. —Talis Shelbourne, Journal Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2023

Once your candles run out, reach for the diffuser or the room spray to maintain the burst of blooms emanating from this collection. —Nerisha Penrose, elle.com, 11 Apr. 2023

Stacks of books sit in the librarian’s office because shelf space has run out. —Dua Anjum, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2023

The ‘Masknificent’ Happy Meals will be available in McDonald’s stores through April 24 (or when supplies run out). —Michael Schneider, Variety, 4 Apr. 2023

Edi Villalobos, 28, accused of murder, ran out of a courtroom, eluded deputies and hid inside a nearby empty apartment for hours before his capture on Feb. 27. —oregonlive, 15 Apr. 2023

Daytime soap operas would also run out of new episodes within a few weeks. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2023

As the waiting migrants noticed that there was now a path open to them to try to leave, dozens ran out. —Kate Morrissey, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2023

In January, Pear Therapeutics was quickly running out of money. —Mario Aguilar, STAT, 13 Apr. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

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

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