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run out (plural run outs)

1. Alternative spelling of runout.

run out (third-person singular simple present runs out, present participle running out, simple past ran out, past participle run out)

2. (intransitive, transitive, idiomatic) To use up or consume all [with of ‘something’ (optional)]

   Hyponyms: sell out, stock out

   Coordinate terms: run low, run short

   Get some more beer out of the fridge before we run out.

   If this hot weather continues, we will run out of ice cream.

   • 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport‎^[1]:

     England keeper Joe Hart had to save smartly from the dangerous Andriy Yarmolenko, who also raised the hopes of the Donetsk crowd as he evaded several challenges in the area before running out of space.

4. (intransitive) To expire; to come to an end.

   My driving licence runs out next week, so I had better renew it now.

   The option will run out next week and I can't get it extended.

   1. To be completely used up or consumed.

      Time is running out.

      Oh no! The wine has run out!

      • 2011 April 11, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport‎^[2]:

        Mario Balotelli replaced Tevez but his contribution was so negligible that he suffered the indignity of being substituted himself as time ran out, a development that encapsulated a wretched 90 minutes for City and boss Roberto Mancini.

      • 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68:

        Time is running out, so I renounce a spin on a Class 387 for a fast run to Paddington on another Class 800 - a shame as the weather was perfect for pictures. Even so, it's enjoyable - boy, can those trains shift under the wires.

6. (cricket) To get a batsman out (dismissed from play) via a runout.

   Jackson was run out for a duck in the first over.

   • 2019 July 14, Stephan Shemilt, “England win Cricket World Cup: Ben Stokes stars in dramatic finale against New Zealand”, in BBC Sport‎^[3], London:

     With three runs needed from two balls, Adil Rashid was run out coming back for a second. When Wood suffered the same fate from the final ball, the match was tied.

8. (transitive) To extend a piece of material, or clothing.

   If I run out these curtains, they will fit the windows in the drawing room.

9. (intransitive) To conclude in, to end up.
   • 2011 September 29, Jon Smith, “Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers”, in BBC Sport‎^[4]:

     Tottenham survived a scare as they fought back from 1-0 down to run out comfortable winners against Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League.

11. To force (someone or something) out of a location or state of being.

    If the mob thinks you did it, they'll run you out of town.

    They'll run us out of business doing that!

12. (archaic) To grow poor over time by spending all of one's money.
13. (obsolete, printing) To fill a line with quadrats or full points.
15. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see run,‎ out.

    Near-synonyms: see Thesaurus:leave

    She ran out of the room in tears.

• (use up): out; all out, fresh out

• outrun