runoff
1 of 2noun
run·off ˈrən-ˌȯf 
1
: a final race, contest, or election to decide an earlier one that has not resulted in a decision in favor of any one competitor
2
: the portion of precipitation on land that ultimately reaches streams often with dissolved or suspended material
run off
2 of 2verb
ran off; run off; running off; runs off
transitive verb
1
a
: to recite, compose, or produce rapidly
b
: to cause to be run or played to a finish
c
: to decide (a race) by a runoff
d
: carry out
2
: to drain off : draw off
3
a
: to drive off (someone, such as a trespasser)
b
: to steal (animals, such as cattle) by driving away
intransitive verb
: run away sense 1
see also run off with
Synonyms
Verb
- banish
- boot (out)
- bounce
- cast out
- chase
- dismiss
- drum (out)
- eject
- expel
- extrude
- kick out
- oust
- out
- rout
- throw out
- turf (out) [chiefly British]
- turn out
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again
Recent Examples on the Web
Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 28 Aug. 2022 The reservoirs depend mostly on snowmelt runoff, which has sharply declined because of the warming climate, the officials said. Carl Churchill, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 As a result, about 40 percent of the world’s arable land is now used to grow animal feed, with all the attendant environmental costs related to factors such as deforestation, water use, fertilizer runoff, pesticides and fossil fuel use. Bob Holmes, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Aug. 2022 The seat leans heavily Republican, so the big show on the airwaves is the GOP primary (and primary runoff) between former state Sen. Josh Brecheen and state Rep. Avery Frix, who emerged atop of a crowded field in the June primary. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 19 Aug. 2022 The presence of enteric bacteria indicates fecal pollution that can come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife and human sewage. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 14 July 2022 And more continue to disappear because of sediment-deposition patterns; fertilizer runoff; spilled and leaking chemicals; increasing floods, storms, droughts, and fires; and today’s rising sea level. Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 Republicans will determine which candidate will likely succeed longtime retiring Sen. Richard Shelby in the Alabama Senate runoff, a race that has seen Trump endorse one candidate only to withdraw the endorsement and back his opponent. Dylan Wells, USA TODAY, 20 June 2022 Hemmerling, a candidate for San Diego sheriff who is likely to make the November runoff, retired from the City Attorney’s Office late last month -- one day after the Union-Tribune rescinded its endorsement. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2022 Christina Sizemore, Chron, 30 Aug. 2022 But the Pearl River flowing through it is under a flood warning as water continues to run off from this week's rain. Jay Croft, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 The heavy, short rainfall brought by the occasional thunderstorm tends to run off, not soak into the ground. Jennifer Mcdermott, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 When there are abundant rains in South Texas, the excess water tends to run off into creeks and rivers, eventually draining into the Gulf of Mexico. Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 1 June 2022 When Corden tried to run off, Cruise stopped him and insisted the comedian was his Goose — the character played by Anthony Edwards in the first Top Gun flick. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2022 The attacker was seen getting up and trying to run off stage before he was caught and tackled by what appeared to be security personnel and members of Chappelle’s team. Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 May 2022 The two men tussled with each other, but the assailant managed to run off with the key, police said. NBC News, 23 Apr. 2022 Maybe the biggest benefit of Apple’s shift to its own processors is how much longer its laptops can run off a single charge. Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
Urban forests absorb stormwater runoff, filter pollution from the air and sequester carbon. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 28 Aug. 2022 The reservoirs depend mostly on snowmelt runoff, which has sharply declined because of the warming climate, the officials said. Carl Churchill, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 As a result, about 40 percent of the world’s arable land is now used to grow animal feed, with all the attendant environmental costs related to factors such as deforestation, water use, fertilizer runoff, pesticides and fossil fuel use. Bob Holmes, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Aug. 2022 The seat leans heavily Republican, so the big show on the airwaves is the GOP primary (and primary runoff) between former state Sen. Josh Brecheen and state Rep. Avery Frix, who emerged atop of a crowded field in the June primary. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 19 Aug. 2022 The presence of enteric bacteria indicates fecal pollution that can come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife and human sewage. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 14 July 2022 And more continue to disappear because of sediment-deposition patterns; fertilizer runoff; spilled and leaking chemicals; increasing floods, storms, droughts, and fires; and today’s rising sea level. Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 Republicans will determine which candidate will likely succeed longtime retiring Sen. Richard Shelby in the Alabama Senate runoff, a race that has seen Trump endorse one candidate only to withdraw the endorsement and back his opponent. Dylan Wells, USA TODAY, 20 June 2022 Hemmerling, a candidate for San Diego sheriff who is likely to make the November runoff, retired from the City Attorney’s Office late last month -- one day after the Union-Tribune rescinded its endorsement. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2022 Verb
Drive-ins offered more flexibility than an indoor theatre, the whole family could attend, and kids were free to run off their energy when needed. Christina Sizemore, Chron, 30 Aug. 2022 But the Pearl River flowing through it is under a flood warning as water continues to run off from this week's rain. Jay Croft, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 The heavy, short rainfall brought by the occasional thunderstorm tends to run off, not soak into the ground. Jennifer Mcdermott, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 When there are abundant rains in South Texas, the excess water tends to run off into creeks and rivers, eventually draining into the Gulf of Mexico. Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 1 June 2022 When Corden tried to run off, Cruise stopped him and insisted the comedian was his Goose — the character played by Anthony Edwards in the first Top Gun flick. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2022 The attacker was seen getting up and trying to run off stage before he was caught and tackled by what appeared to be security personnel and members of Chappelle’s team. Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 May 2022 The two men tussled with each other, but the assailant managed to run off with the key, police said. NBC News, 23 Apr. 2022 Maybe the biggest benefit of Apple’s shift to its own processors is how much longer its laptops can run off a single charge. Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1867, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1680, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
run off 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to out
to drive or force out the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- out
- eject
- cast out
- chase
- dismiss
- banish
- kick out
- turn out
- expel
- throw out
- evict
- sack
- shut out
- read out
- send packing
- remove
- drum (out)
- turf (out)
- boot (out)
- extrude
- deforce
- rout
- fire
- give one the gate
- oust
- bounce
- exile
- muster out
- expatriate
- ostracize
- dispossess
- can
- terminate
- release
- deport
- discharge
- retire
- ax
- displace
- cashier
- axe
- pink-slip
- defenestrate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- take in
- receive
- accept
- take
- admit
- welcome
- house
- shelter
- entertain
- lodge
- harbor
2
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again Synonyms & Similar Words
- escape
- flee
- run away
- get out
- fly
- break free
- clear out
- leave
- lam
- break out (of)
- abscond
- walk out
- pull out
- move
- avoid
- exit
- go
- take off
- evade
- lose
- shun
- elude
- depart
- bring off
- sally (forth)
- rescue
- quit
- decamp
- shove (off)
- spring
- free
- loose
- release
- elope
- liberate
- disentangle
- extricate
- manumit
- loosen
- enfranchise
- emancipate
- redeem
- unbind
- unchain
- uncage
- unfetter
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hang around
- stick around
- remain
- stay
- dwell
- linger
- abide
- return
- tarry
- come back
3
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us Synonyms & Similar Words
- retreat
- fly
- flee
- bolt
- run away
- run
- escape
- bug out
- beat a retreat
- turn tail
- beat it
- break
- make tracks
- get out
- light out
- hightail (it)
- clear out
- skedaddle
- skirr
- make off
- get (away)
- skip (out)
- scram
- lam
- decamp
- abscond
- scat
- elope
- scarper
- mizzle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confront
- dare
- face
- beard
- defy
- remain
- stay
- brave
- hang around
- stick around
- dwell
- linger
- abide
- tarry
runoff
2 of 2noun
as in freshet
Synonyms & Similar Words
- freshet
- creek
- fresh
- arroyo
- rill
- brook
- rivulet
- watercourse
- stream
- streamlet
- runnel
- bayou
- wash
- waterway
- brooklet
- slough
- race
- billabong
- canal
- coulee
- bourne
- burn
- gill
- bourn
- millrace
- cutoff
- tributary
- millstream
- influent
- beck
- run
- slew
- distributary
- runlet
- kill
- channel
- confluent
- slue
- cut
- affluent
- branch
- gut