run out
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle out
Meanings
Use all of the available supply
Why “out”? Something is used until nothing is left. Energy, supply, fire, and time all reach zero.
“The cafe ran out of oat milk just before Leo ordered at the counter.”
“Leo ran out of printer paper at the community office that afternoon.”
“The printer ran out of paper.”
“The hikers ran out of water.”
“Time is running out.”
“My phone is running out of battery.”
“Maya and Leo ran out of time to practice before the office presentation.”
(of a contract, lease or document)Reach the end of its valid period
“My passport runs out next year.”
“The lease runs out in March.”
Run out of a building or room
Why “out”? Movement goes from inside to outside.
“He ran out of the room shouting.”
“The children ran out of the school when the bell rang.”
Reject and force someone to leave a place
Why “out”? Pushing outward to eliminate. What is removed is sent away.
“They ran him out of town.”
“The neighbours ran the gang out.”
Memory hook
The supply runs out the door until none is left.
Common mistake
We ran out the milk.
We ran out of milk.
Use run out of before the thing you have none of.
Natural collocations
The word partners “run out” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Run out means use all of a supply. Run up means make a bill or score grow quickly.
Run out means reach the end of its valid period. Run down means criticise someone or something.
Run out means reject and force someone to leave a place. Run off means leave running.
Test yourself
“The cafe ran out of oat milk just before Leo ordered at the counter.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
run along
A contrast learners often mix up
Used to tell a child or someone to leave (often dismissively)
run down
A contrast learners often mix up
Criticise someone or something; Hit a person or animal with a vehicle
run off
A contrast learners often mix up
Leave running, often abruptly
run up
A contrast learners often mix up
Accumulate a debt, bill or score quickly
blow out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Extinguish a flame by blowing
break out
Same out pattern: departure
(of war, fire or disease) Start suddenly; Escape from a locked or guarded place
burn out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Become exhausted from overwork; (of a fire) Stop burning because there is no fuel left; (of an electrical device) Stop working because of overheating; Destroy a building or vehicle by fire
burst out
Same out pattern: departure
Suddenly start laughing, crying, or making another strong sound; Say something suddenly and forcefully; Leave a place suddenly and forcefully; (of a sound or song) Suddenly begin loudly
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