1
as in ejected
to drive or force out
the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escaped
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of ran off
After the loss to Martins, Makhachev ran off 10 straight wins.
—
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The teens ran off but two of them were soon apprehended by police — with a third suspect still being sought, police sources said.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Donald was driving and Maria Nunney was a passenger in a Honda Odyssey traveling east on I-40 when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
The man jumped over the counter, grabbed the register and ran off with about $140.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
At least one eyewitness ran off the opposite direction of the suspect.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Weeks before school was let out for summer vacation, a bus carying 19 students ran off the road, hit a bridge then rolled onto its side into a creek bed near Rock House Hollow Road.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Aug. 2025
An Ohio company that uses drones to help hunters find deer that ran off after being shot can't operate in Michigan, a federal appeals court affirmed.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The operator of the bike, a 42-year-old Pawtucket, Rhode Island man, lost control of the Honda and ran off the right side of the road, striking a mailbox, state police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The teens ran off but two of them were soon apprehended by police — with a third suspect still being sought, police sources said.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Donald was driving and Maria Nunney was a passenger in a Honda Odyssey traveling east on I-40 when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
The man jumped over the counter, grabbed the register and ran off with about $140.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
At least one eyewitness ran off the opposite direction of the suspect.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Weeks before school was let out for summer vacation, a bus carying 19 students ran off the road, hit a bridge then rolled onto its side into a creek bed near Rock House Hollow Road.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Aug. 2025
An Ohio company that uses drones to help hunters find deer that ran off after being shot can't operate in Michigan, a federal appeals court affirmed.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The operator of the bike, a 42-year-old Pawtucket, Rhode Island man, lost control of the Honda and ran off the right side of the road, striking a mailbox, state police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran off
Verb
-
But perhaps records of the first chemical steps towards life were ejected into space and then fell onto the Moon, says Sephton.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Four passengers in the Mustang were ejected, and the driver was thrown into another seat, according to Ells.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two 12-year-old girls escaped the fire.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gerson believes the gangs have retreated.—
Johnny Fils-Aimé,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Runner-up Sabalenka, meanwhile, retreated to another area, smashed her racket until the frame buckled and sat with her back against the wall, next to the scratch marks left on the floor.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Spurs have, for now, dismissed takeover talk.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
His previous criminal history includes two violations of an abuse prevention order and a charge of destruction of property, all of which have been dismissed.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The vehicle that Routh had fled in — the black Nissan Xterra — also bore a license plate that was not registered to the car, according to the court filing.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Twelve days after Smith fled, authorities received a call that two men had been shot while on a hunting trip near Kiana.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cal Poly bolted 75 yards on nine plays for its first TD, a 12-yard pass from 6-foot-6 Ty Dieffenbach to Michael Briscoe.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
-
In the second quarter Friday night, Beatty bolted down the middle of the field to catch Altmyer’s pass.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Sports piracy has become so widespread that even professional athletes, like Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (who was spotted using Streameast in May 2024) and Seattle Seahawks' Tariq Woolen, have been outed as users.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In the past year alone, Bennett was in Superman and was outed as the most popular guy at SNL, and Mooney directed A24’s Y2K and toured a new album of original music.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As the boys ran away down the street, the man raised the pistol again and fired at them, striking Guzman in the back.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The boys knocked on Leon’s door several times and ran away, Julián’s cousin told police.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ran off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share