1
as in ejecting
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flying
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of running off
The next progression is running off makes, the Holy Grail for transition teams because taking the ball out of the net gives the defense more time to retreat.
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Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
The shadow here would be chasing escapism… running off to find harmony somewhere else instead of tending to what’s right in front of you.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 12 Oct. 2025
Devastated by the experience, Jules cried and found comfort in Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill) before running off.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Both were terrible, and Rosenthal had a history of running off qualified baseball people during his 21-year run with the team.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Beauty pageant contestants were seen in another video running off the stage as the earthquake started.
—Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The senior played a few snaps on the second series and just one snap on TCU’s third series before running off the field with a slight limp and signaling for freshman Dozie Ezukanma to come into the game.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Surveillance video appears to show a man on a bicycle approach another man and stab him without warning before running off.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The individual was seen on video jumping from a rooftop and running off campus.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running off
Verb
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Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes set the tone before kickoff by ejecting Ravens kicker Justin Tucker and his equipment from the area where the Chiefs were warming up.—
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That blast obliterated a park boardwalk, ejecting rocks and mud hundreds of feet into the air.—
Verb
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Her grandfather, George Craig, had made his way there after escaping enslavement with the aid of John Brown, and was working as a barber in the town of Grinnell.—
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Regardless of our paths — whether that meant escaping war in Ethiopia or being the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — many of us labor under the belief that this work requires us to commit to the ideals of this nation and not the indignation and nightmare of the insurrection.—
Verb
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Hall was in net when Boston's Bobby Orr scored in overtime to win the Cup for the Bruins in 1970, a goal that's among the most famous in hockey history because of the flying through the air celebration that followed.—
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While some travelers praise the trend for reducing stress and avoiding baggage fees, others say flying without bags is unrealistic for longer trips or work travel.—
Verb
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Confidence can tip into defensiveness, so your challenge has a lot to do with asserting boundaries without emotional withdrawal and honoring your needs without dismissing others.—
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The president spoke little about democracy in Venezuela, dismissing a potential role for its longstanding democratic opposition in running the country in the immediate aftermath of the operation.—
Verb
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The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.—
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The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene, officials said.—
Verb
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At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
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Even with state and federal backing, developers are retreating and selling properties, signaling that grassroots activism is fundamentally reshaping Big Tech’s expansion strategy.—
Verb
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Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.—
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Even in an era when AI can write code, Brin cautioned students against chasing—or abandoning—fields of study based solely on automation fears.—
Verb
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Before running away, the suspect demanded that Cornejo go to the back of the shop and get on her knees.—
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The clip then captured the bear returning later before running away again after trying to move the electric mat.—
Cite this Entry
“Running off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20off. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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