run out

verb

ran out; run out; running out; runs out

intransitive verb

1
a
: to come to an end : expire
time ran out
b
: to become exhausted or used up
the gasoline ran out
2
: to jut out

transitive verb

1
a
: to finish out (a course, a series, a contest, etc.) : complete
b
of a baseball batter : to run hard to first base after hitting (a batted ball)
ran out the grounder
2
a
: to fill out (a typeset line) with quads, leaders, or ornaments
b
: to set (a line of text, such as the first line of a paragraph) with a hanging indention
3
: to exhaust (oneself) in running
4
: to cause to leave by force or coercion : expel
Phrases
run out of
: to use up the available supply of
ran out of time
run out on
: desert

Examples of run out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The report had said that food systems are running out of fresh water and cities are sinking as aquifers beneath them dry up. Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024 There is a lot that election officials cannot control water main breaks, someplace runs out of ballots. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024 All these complications make the current iteration of CAR-T suitable only for lupus patients with severe disease, who have run out of other options. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024 Later, the Lions ran out the final 3:49 of the game when the Packers were desperately trying to get the ball back. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for run out 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of run out was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near run out

Cite this Entry

“Run out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run%20out. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

run out

verb
1
: to come to an end : expire
time ran out before we could tie the game
2
: to become exhausted or used up
our supplies were running out
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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