run off 1 of 2

verb

Definition of run offnext
1
as in to out
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 to escape
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 to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

runoff

2 of 2

noun

as in fresh

Related Words

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 run off
Verb
When the cashier opens the register, the suspect pulls out a knife, reaches over the counter, grabs the cash, and runs off. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 Systems like Belgard’s permeable pavers allow rainwater to filter into the ground instead of running off, which helps manage stormwater and support a healthier landscape. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
This soilless treatment allows farmers to provide the exact amount of nutrients and water needed, without runoff, while recycling most of the water – key in arid Saudi Arabia, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026 Under Zambian law, a candidate needs more than 50% to avoid a runoff. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for run off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run off
  1. out
  2. escape
  3. retreat
  4. fresh
  5. eject
  6. flee
  7. fly
  8. freshet
Verb
  • Wrobleski and Roberts considered Saturday’s outing a solid one, sans the 88-mph slider to Ortiz on the right-middle part of the plate.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Photoplay’s feature Hollywood’s Unmarried Husbands and Wives outed several of the era’s most bankable couples—Clark Gable and Carole Lombard among them—for the crime of cohabitating without paperwork.
    — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of out
Verb
  • The bear scratched his arm, and the victim tripped and injured his foot while trying to escape, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Roy can’t escape one difficult question, however, concerning his plans for what’s next after his contract’s up at the end of the season.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of escape
Verb
  • Skywatchers will not only see the moon change color, but also witness the sharp, curved edge of Earth’s shadow steadily advancing across — and later retreating from — the lunar surface.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • At a moment when Washington is retreating from its responsibilities, New York is stepping up for vulnerable immigrant children.
    — Meena Shah, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreat
Noun
  • The company’s first non-Finnish CEO, Stephen Elop (a Canadian fresh off a two-year stint on Microsoft’s leadership team), did not mince words.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 July 2026
  • Similar to the millennial mint that's been making the rounds, Tiffany blue brings the same fresh, uplifting energy with a slightly more luxe feel.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 15 June 2026
Definition of fresh
Verb
  • The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and taken to a hospital in critical condition.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Midfielder Yannick Bright was the Miami player ejected and is suspended for Saturday’s game at Nu Stadium.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of eject
Verb
  • After Bridegan was shot in the street, prosecutors have said, one person fled on foot and another fled in a vehicle, WJXT reported.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Luwi, who moved into Gajdusek’s house after Koiye fled it, spent years keeping his distance from his uncle, so as not to attract suspicion, too.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of flee
Verb
  • However, what’s entirely unexpected is the sparrow continuing to fly around even when Hal takes his ring back.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • These include ballistic missiles, low-flying cruise missiles, aircraft, hypersonic threats, ships, and other surface targets.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of fly
Noun
  • The Hudson River had a little current, fed by freshets from upstream with local rains, and melting snow farther up, in the Adirondacks.
    — Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2020
  • As August turned to September, the sun dropped and the first cold freshet of autumn rainwater flowed out of the mountains and tickled the noses of the salmon waiting off Astoria, where the Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean.
    — Patrick Symmes, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
Definition of freshet

Browse Nearby Words

runny
run off
runoff
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Run off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20off. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on run off

Nglish: Translation of run off for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All