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 runoff
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Bacteria can enter beaches via stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, leaking sewer pipes and sewer overflows, among other sources, according to Massachusetts' Public Health Department and Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Tonette was pregnant with her first child in Vancleave, Mississippi by a man who had run off.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
Verb
The advisories generally are the result of animal activity, nearby stagnant water or runoff from nearby neighborhoods.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Bacteria can enter beaches via stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, leaking sewer pipes and sewer overflows, among other sources, according to Massachusetts' Public Health Department and Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Tri-Lakes have been neglected for decades, Hasdal said, becoming catch points for nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that run off farm fields and lawns or seep into groundwater.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Tonette was pregnant with her first child in Vancleave, Mississippi by a man who had run off.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runoff
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
-
The star linebacker then made a spectacle of his final preseason outing with the team.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With roughly 180 resorts spread across its atolls, there are dozens of worthy five-star escapes to choose from.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Auger-Aliassime played some of his best tennis since the early 2020s in the second and fourth sets, winning the former and having Sinner on the edge of going a break down for 3-1 in the latter, before the Italian escaped.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Like, say, where the Chiefs looked eager to retreat — the locker room.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Afterward, retreat to the spa’s relaxation lounge—where a glowing copper teardrop floats above cedar banquettes—while next door, the subterranean fitness center boasts Technogym gear and treadmills—all below the waterline.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In northern Italy’s Alto Adige region, chardonnay is lean, minerally and mountain-fresh—proof the grape was never the problem, just the stereotype.—
Devin Parr,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Another option is to use fuel stabilizer which will help keep the gasoline fresh and the generator’s fuel system in good shape.—
Rick Barrett,
jsonline.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Those continuing to violate the policy will be ejected.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Police reported the suspect got into an awaiting black SUV driven by a second suspect, and the pair fled the scene.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Routh allegedly fled after the agent fired at him, and was later arrested after being stopped on a nearby interstate.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Compost for Life uses black soldier fly larvae to break down organic material.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Neutrogena Clean Face Oil-free Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Recor prefers this oil-free SPF for his face while flying.—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
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
“Runoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runoff. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share