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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escaping
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 flying
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of running off
This helps keep the bristles in order and can also assist with running off any excess moisture that might still need to dry.
—
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
The trio robbed the victim of his wallet and cell phone before running off, prosecutors say.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
After running off a 7-1 start in SEC play and sitting comfortably in most NCAA Tournament field projections, A&M will likely move to double-digit seed/bubble territory.
—American Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
There was a whole person before the world got to know her who was living in a studio apartment in the East Village, throwing clothes on and running off to work.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
Online complaints about his company repeatedly accuse it of running off with rents.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
These materials allow rain to soak into the soil through porous surfaces and gravel bases, rather than pooling or running off.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
The Bruins' defense limited the Scarlet Knights (9-14, 1-11) to two 3-pointers in the first quarter, when UCLA led 26-6 after running off 16 straight points.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Residents should call Animal Control or authorities if coyotes exhibit concerning behavior like approaching pets, following people or not running off when harassed.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
The trio robbed the victim of his wallet and cell phone before running off, prosecutors say.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
After running off a 7-1 start in SEC play and sitting comfortably in most NCAA Tournament field projections, A&M will likely move to double-digit seed/bubble territory.
—American Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
There was a whole person before the world got to know her who was living in a studio apartment in the East Village, throwing clothes on and running off to work.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
Online complaints about his company repeatedly accuse it of running off with rents.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
These materials allow rain to soak into the soil through porous surfaces and gravel bases, rather than pooling or running off.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
The Bruins' defense limited the Scarlet Knights (9-14, 1-11) to two 3-pointers in the first quarter, when UCLA led 26-6 after running off 16 straight points.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Residents should call Animal Control or authorities if coyotes exhibit concerning behavior like approaching pets, following people or not running off when harassed.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running off
Verb
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Taken together, these insights helped scientists arrive at the current prevailing theory that a Mars-size object smashed into Earth, ejecting a blob of molten material from our planet that became the moon.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Galaxies will dissociate due to gravitational interactions, ejecting all masses and leaving only supermassive black holes behind.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some of his best friends and teammates have won Super Bowls the last two years after escaping the Giants.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
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But such dreamy weather tends to draw visitors escaping snow and ice back home, so expect beaches to be busier and prices to be higher during this season.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The violence captured on cellphone videos and shared around the globe – buses burning, gas stations attacked, military helicopters flying overhead – wasn’t just happening in remote rural towns long plagued by drug violence.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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Shorts and T-shirts Buyers are already looking ahead to the warmer months, which is why even summer staples like shorts and t-shirts are currently flying off shelves.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rather than dismissing student activism as naïve or disruptive, civic leaders can engage these young Marylanders in real discussions about how government works and how citizens influence change.—
Karl W. Bickel,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Feb. 2026
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And more generally, Jim isn’t dismissing the presence of some bad loans within the private credit complex.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the driver walks toward the vehicle behind the rig, a van, a person can be seen fleeing the scene on foot.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Schwartz, the retired journalist, spends six months a year in Puerto Vallarta, fleeing the ice and snow of his hometown in Michigan.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Abel also used the letter to push back on any notion that the sizable cash position signified that Berkshire was retreating from investing.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
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Many advocates and executives are worried the agency may be retreating from the flexible approach regulators have promised in recent years.—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When many publications let down their paywall at the tantalizing prospect of chasing massive audiences online through social platforms, The Economist remained skeptical, choosing a model that emphasized subscription and reader revenue over advertising.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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Honky-tonks like the White Horse, Broken Spoke and Donn’s Depot routinely pull in artists and actors chasing a two-step.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Officers found a gun Powell discarded into bushes while running away.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2026
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After running away before Cathy's wedding, Heathcliff transforms from a farm hand to a proper 18th-century gentleman—complete with a new gold tooth and hoop earring.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Running off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20off. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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