Run into meaning
Run into means to meet someone you know when you did not expect to. It can also mean to start to have problems or difficulties.
run into somebody
run into · ran · run · running
I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket.
Run into meanings and examples
4 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Meet someone you know when you did not expect to
run into somebody
- I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket.
- Guess who I ran into at the airport?
- If you run into Leo, tell him to call me.
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2
Start to have problems or difficulties
run into something
- We ran into heavy traffic outside the city.
- The project ran into money problems in May.
- Let me know if you run into any trouble.
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3
Hit something or someone by accident while moving
run into something
- He was looking at his phone and ran into a lamp post.
- A van ran into the back of our car.
- Careful! You nearly ran into that dog.
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4
Reach a very large number or amount
run into something
- The cost of the repairs could run into thousands.
- Visitors to the festival run into the millions.
- Their debt now runs into six figures.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use run into in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is run into separable?
Run into is not separable. The person or thing always comes after into: I ran into Kim, I ran into her. Never say ran her into.
Run into someone and bump into someone mean the same when you meet by chance. Run into trouble, problems and difficulties are very common pairs.
Verb tenses for run into
| Present | I run into · she runs into |
|---|---|
| Past | ran into |
| Present perfect | have run into |
| -ing form | running into |
Common mistakes with run into
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I ran her into at the station.
Right: I ran into her at the station.
Run into is not separable. The person goes after into.
Wrong: I ran into with Sara in town.
Right: I ran into Sara in town.
No with. Meet with is different, and run into takes the person straight after.
Wrong: We ran in some problems with the visa.
Right: We ran into some problems with the visa.
The particle is into, one word.
Synonyms and opposites of run into
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- bump intomeet by chance or hit lightly; very close to run into
- come acrossfind or meet by chance, often a thing
- crash intohit something hard, usually in a vehicle
Opposite
- arrange to meetplan a meeting, not meet by chance
- avoidstay away from someone or something on purpose
Run into quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1I ___ an old friend at the cinema last night.
Run into means meet someone by chance.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Run into is not separable and takes no with.
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3“The building work ran into problems.” What happened?
Run into problems means start to have them.
More phrasal verbs with run
All phrasal verbs with run, by level, with an exercise
8 phrasal verbs start with run. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- run out ofB1use all of something so that you have none left
- run outB1use all of something so there is none left
- run awayB2leave a person or place suddenly, often secretly, to escape
- run overC1hit someone or something with a vehicle and drive over them
- run downB2lose power slowly, or make something lose power
- run throughB2explain, read or check something quickly from start to end
- run offB2leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying why
Run into FAQ
Questions people ask about run into.
Run into vs bump into: what is the difference?
When you meet someone by chance, they mean the same. Bump into sounds a bit more casual. For problems, use run into: run into trouble.
Is run into formal?
It is informal to neutral. In formal writing, say encounter: We encountered several problems.
Run into vs run over: what is the difference?
Run into means hit something by accident. Run over means a vehicle goes over a person or thing on the ground.
Use run into in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.