1
: a final race, contest, or election to decide an earlier one that has not resulted in a decision in favor of any one competitor
2
: the portion of precipitation on land that ultimately reaches streams often with dissolved or suspended material
ran off; run off; running off; runs off
1
a
: to recite, compose, or produce rapidly
b
: to cause to be run or played to a finish
c
: to decide (a race) by a runoff
d
2
: to drain off : draw off
3
a
: to drive off (someone, such as a trespasser)
b
: to steal (animals, such as cattle) by driving away
see also run off with
Examples of runoff in a Sentence
Verb
the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property
their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again
Recent Examples on the Web
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially those that saw flooding on Sunday and Monday from the remnants of Chantal.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2025
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Trees and shrubs enable water to be stored in soil, instead of rapidly running off and floods.
—Jim Martin, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
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Noun
When intense rains began: Urban runoff intensified due to paved surfaces in cities like Austin and Killeen, contributing to street and highway flooding.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially those that saw flooding on Sunday and Monday from the remnants of Chantal.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2025
Verb
The gunman who mistakenly shot her ran off and is being sought.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Trees and shrubs enable water to be stored in soil, instead of rapidly running off and floods.
—Jim Martin, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
Cite this Entry
“Runoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runoff. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runoff
1 of 2 noun
run·off
ˈrən-ˌȯf 
1
: a final contest or election to decide an earlier one that has not given the victory to one competitor
2
: water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams
run off
2 of 2 verbˈrən-ˈȯf,
ˌrən-
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