running off

verb

present participle of run off
1
as in ejecting
to drive or force out the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property

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2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again

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3
as in flying
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us

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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 running off The Strawther familiar to Denver is the free-swinging gunner, trailing the play in transition to hunt 3s or running off weak-side screens or waiting for the ball in the corner. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Images released by police showed one person ripping down the flag and then another person running off with the flag. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian went viral following his team’s miraculous 24-23 comeback against Ohio State this past Saturday after running off from a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 In the series, Cash plays Caleb Hodgekiss, an ex-con stepping in for the town’s injured Reverend with the intention of robbing worshippers and running off. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 Arredondo-Garcia then ran in front of a car and smashed the front end of the car with his body before running off. — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 Surveillance video shows four masked men approaching a home before running off when they were confronted by the homeowner. — Abigail Velez, ABC News, 17 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 Moments later, a fight broke out between the trio, and the suspect pulled a gun and fired three shots at his rivals before running off. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running off
  1. ejecting
  2. escaping
  3. flying
  4. dismissing
  5. fleeing
  6. retreating
  7. chasing
  8. running away
Verb
  • This, essentially, was a driver ejecting them for their political views and fashion choices.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Unscrewing its top reveals a small pin that can be used for punching holes, ejecting a SIM card, or simply as a toothpick.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ejecting
Verb
  • The same gas is commonly found escaping from magmatic vents on Earth, with the compound coming from hot magma beneath the surface.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The celebrity barn owls’ saga follows in the footsteps of Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl, who captivated the city for a year after escaping from the Central Park Zoo after someone cut a hole through the mesh of his enclosure.
    — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of escaping
Verb
  • In some ways, flying a plane is easier than driving a car, at least as far as automation is concerned.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026
  • So Argo’s first Chiron mission is flying on an undisclosed new commercial rocket, definitely a calculated risk.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of flying
Verb
  • The video, which has resurfaced on social media ahead of the midterms, features older Americans dismissing issues such as gun violence and climate change while sarcastically encouraging young people to stay home on Election Day.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The usual suspects tried dismissing Jokic and Doncic as international players.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • The video shows the man fleeing from the officer, then turning around and starting to chase him, before pointing a weapon in the officer's direction.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the city known as the birthplace of the film industry, Hollywood jobs have been fleeing for years for cheaper locales.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of fleeing
Verb
  • French social media users criticized Mbappé for retreating on his comments.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The pool is the best spot to take in the sunset before retreating to the open-air dining space for good eats and conversation.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreating
Verb
  • Florida should belong to the people who live here, not billionaires with cushy coastal vacation homes or corporations chasing a tax haven.
    — Cameron Driggers, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Throughout this story, the husband is unwittingly chasing a sense of relief.
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of chasing
Verb
  • In video released by police, an officer exits his vehicle and points his gun at Ryan Hinton, who appears to be running away.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • One deputy tried to use a Taser on the dog, which sent the animal running away.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of running away

Browse Nearby Words

running mates
running off
running off with
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Cite this Entry

“Running off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20off. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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