Synonyms of run into

run into

phrase

1

as in find

to come upon unexpectedly or by chance

They ran into a new set of problems as soon as they thought everything was fixed.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• find
• encounter
• hit (upon)
• come across
• meet
• pitch (upon)
• happen (on or upon)
• bump into
• chance (upon)
• run against
• run across
• light (on or upon)
• run upon
• tumble (upon)
• stumble (on or onto)
• face
• luck (out, on, onto, or into)
• discover
• confront
• turn up
• strike

2

as in encounter

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face

The woman ran into her boss at the grocery store.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encounter
• meet
• bump into
• run across
• happen (upon)
• chance (upon)
• confront
• catch
• run upon
• stumble (upon)
• cross paths (with)
• greet
• crash (into)
• collide (with)
• face
• hit (upon)
• light (upon)
• salute
• cross
• tumble (to)
• pass
• accost
• crisscross
• remeet
• reencounter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• escape
• shake
• duck
• evade
• dodge
• shun
• elude

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of run into

Unfortunately, most people are far more likely to run into questions of budgeting and investing than, say, calculating the area of a triangle (some professions aside). — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 13 July 2026

Jim has been frustrated with Wells Fargo ever since its post-asset-cap-removal climb ran into a tough 2025 fourth-quarter earnings report in mid-January. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 July 2026

In Paris, people take trains, run into each other, walk along parks, ride buses, enter or leave buildings, sit in cafés, buy things, and lead thoroughly uneventful lives, but nothing external impinges on them. — André Aciman, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Those direct runs into the box were largely missing from a Spain performance that was dominant in possession but often stiff and predictable in attack. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 11 July 2026