Phrasal verbs with run
Run is about moving fast, and its phrasal verbs keep some of that speed: run away, run into an old friend, run out of milk, run through a plan once more.
Phrasal verbs with run by level
- A1–A21run out of
- B12run out of, run out
- B213run out, run into, run away
- C1–C28run into, run over, run down
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
A1–A2The first ones to learn 1 meaning
- run out ofrun out of somethingA2
leave a place quickly by running
The kids ran out of the classroom when the bell rang.
B1Common, with a clear meaning 2 meanings
- run out ofrun out of somethingB1
use all of something so that you have none left
We’ve run out of milk. Can you get some?
- run outrun outB1
use all of something so there is none left
Is there any more rice? No, we’ve run out.
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 13 meanings
- run outrun outB2
be all used, so that there is none left
Hurry up! Time is running out.
- run outrun outB2
come to an end, so that it is no longer valid
My passport runs out next March.
- run intorun into somebodyB2
meet someone you know when you did not expect to
I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket.
- run intorun into somethingB2
start to have problems or difficulties
We ran into heavy traffic outside the city.
- run intorun into somethingB2
hit something or someone by accident while moving
He was looking at his phone and ran into a lamp post.
- run awayrun awayB2
leave a person or place suddenly, often secretly, to escape
The thief ran away when he saw the police.
- run awayrun awayB2
try not to deal with a difficult problem or feeling
You can’t run away from your problems for ever.
- run overrun overB2
go on longer than the planned time
Sorry I’m late. The meeting ran over.
- run overrun over somethingB2
read, say or practise something quickly to check or remember it
Let’s run over the plan one more time.
- run downrun something downB2
lose power slowly, or make something lose power
My phone battery runs down really fast in the cold.
- run throughrun through somethingB2
explain, read or check something quickly from start to end
Let me run through the plan for tomorrow.
- run throughrun through somethingB2
practise a play, song or talk from start to end
The band ran through the whole show before the doors opened.
- run offrun offB2
leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying why
The kids ran off to play as soon as we arrived.
C1–C2Less common and more formal 8 meanings
- run intorun into somethingC1
reach a very large number or amount
The cost of the repairs could run into thousands.
- run overrun something overC1
hit someone or something with a vehicle and drive over them
Slow down! You’ll run over a cat.
- run downrun somebody or something downC1
say unkind things about someone or something, often unfairly
He’s always running down his own country.
- run downrun something downC1
make a business or service slowly smaller or less active
The company is running down its factory in the north.
- run throughrun through somebody or somethingC1
be in every part of something, like a feeling or an idea
A deep sadness runs through all her songs.
- run throughrun through somethingC1
spend or use a lot of something very quickly
We ran through our holiday money in a week.
- run offrun something offC1
print copies of something quickly
Could you run off twenty copies of this page?
- run offrun offC1
flow off a surface, like rain from a roof
The rain runs off the roof into the garden.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
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Phrasal verbs with run that people mix up
Close in meaning, but not the same.
run out or run out of?
run out: use all of something so there is none left.
run out of: the same idea when the thing comes after the verb.
run off: leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying why.
run away: leave to escape; more about escaping something bad.
Phrasal verbs with run: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1She _____ the list of names twice.
Run through: explain, read or check something quickly from start to end. More on run through
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2Let me know if you _____ any trouble.
Run into: start to have problems or difficulties. More on run into
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3Has your phone contract run _____ yet? (come to an end, so that it is no longer valid)
Run out: come to an end, so that it is no longer valid. More on run out
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4Which is correct? (print copies of something quickly)
Run off is separable here, and a pronoun must go in the middle. More on run off
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5Don’t _____ from the truth. Talk to her.
Run away: try not to deal with a difficult problem or feeling. More on run away
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6I left my bike by the gate, and a truck ran it over. What does it mean here?
Run over: hit someone or something with a vehicle and drive over them. More on run over
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7Stop running yourself _____. You did well. (say unkind things about someone or something, often unfairly)
Run down: say unkind things about someone or something, often unfairly. More on run down
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8The kids _____ the classroom when the bell rang.
Run out of: leave a place quickly by running. More on run out of
Phrasal verbs with run: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with run are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 8 are the ones learners meet most, with 24 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with run?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: run out of. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with run are separable?
3 of them have at least one separable meaning, where the object can go in the middle: run over, run down, run off. With a pronoun like it or them, the object must go in the middle.