1
British
: the final part of a race or racetrack
2
3
: something inserted as a substantial addition in copy or typeset matter
ran in; run in; running in; runs in
1
a
: to insert as additional matter
b
: to make (typeset matter) continuous without a paragraph or other break
2
somewhat old-fashioned
: to arrest for a usually minor offense
3
chiefly British
: to break in (a new machine) gradually by careful operation
: to pay a casual visit
Examples of run-in in a Sentence
Noun
the rival gangs had a bit of a run-in last night
Verb
I just thought I'd run in and pick up my package.
if we catch you shoplifting again, we're going to run you in
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
An appellate court decision filed in 2024 by his attorney to challenge a technical detail of a six-year prison sentence for striking a stranger in the face and breaking her nose in 2020 lays out his history of run-ins with the law.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Dec. 2025
Now that the 32nd Congressional District will become a Republican majority seat, Johnson decided to run in the 33rd District, which remains a Democratic majority seat and is now only in Dallas County.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run-in
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
According to authorities, Dambrosio had previous run-ins with law enforcement and had been arrested in Florida.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
An appellate court decision filed in 2024 by his attorney to challenge a technical detail of a six-year prison sentence for striking a stranger in the face and breaking her nose in 2020 lays out his history of run-ins with the law.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
The clip, shared by both the official Optimus account and Elon Musk, shows the robot running in a lab and highlights what Tesla calls a new performance record.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Dec. 2025
Now that the 32nd Congressional District will become a Republican majority seat, Johnson decided to run in the 33rd District, which remains a Democratic majority seat and is now only in Dallas County.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run-in
Cite this Entry
“Run-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run-in. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
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