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
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
Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Much of the precipitation that would normally fall as snow and stay in the mountains for months is instead falling as rain, which runs off quicker, Swain and other scientists said.
—Dorany Pineda, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Mike McGilvary, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Voters could see May runoff elections Some races may not be finalized in the March 3 election.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run off
Verb
Stoian again ran off, the NYPD tracking his credit card use to Michigan, the sources said.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Much of the precipitation that would normally fall as snow and stay in the mountains for months is instead falling as rain, which runs off quicker, Swain and other scientists said.
—Dorany Pineda, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Valleys, transitions and high-water-flow zones — where the geometry of the roof concentrates runoff — can process much more water than other areas of the roof.
—Mike McGilvary, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Voters could see May runoff elections Some races may not be finalized in the March 3 election.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run off
Verb
-
Of course, these posts outing Khan as a potential Twitter troll—this time anonymously as compared to the troll activity on his own account—led to harassing tweets from pro-AEW accounts.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The San Jose State controversy initially gained traction in conservative media outlets, including the website Reduxx, which outed the athlete before the 2024 season.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When approached, such a goose might have made a feeble attempt to escape.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Dylan Volantis escaped a jam with two consecutive strikeouts to conclude a stellar outing.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Illinois lawmakers recently flirted with a tax on unrealized gains—think of stocks yet to be sold at fluctuating prices that only exist on paper—before retreating.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Jackson was disinvited from the Grammy Awards telecast the following week and largely retreated from the public spotlight, while Timberlake’s career continued uninterrupted.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bathrooms with grand marble tubs and hammam walk-in showers are made all the more special by bath products in two different scents–one powdery fresh, the other deep and woody– designed by Dior perfumer François Demachy (in the shape of the building no less) look towards the river.—
Kasia Dietz,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, Bautista prefers working with trainers, mixing things up and keeping his routine fresh.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Canada’s Tom Wilson and French player Pierre Crinon were ejected for fighting in Canada’s win on Sunday.—
Fernanda Figueroa,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The 39-year-old actor was ejected from a Royal Street business after causing a disturbance, according to police.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aljorna, the affidavit claimed, hit a light pole before fleeing from the car, with an ICE agent chasing him on foot toward the home.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast in the wake of the raid, including the ship that was boarded in the Indian Ocean overnight.—
Ben Finley,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Carney ordered government buildings to fly flags at half-mast for the next week.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Two airline sources said that airlines were given the impression that the closure was done out of an abundance of caution due to the FAA's inability to predict where drones might be flying.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Two and a half feet of rain beat down upon the face of the San Gabriels, wiping out the rustic resorts wedged into the canyons, and chuting runoff waters down onto the plain along ancient dry rivulets and freshets and canyons that Angelenos had forgotten or never known about.—
Patt MorrisonColumnist,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2023
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Run off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20off. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
