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run out of meaning and examples

2025-10-28

Meaning

Run out of means to have no more of something left because it has all been used, consumed, or spent. It expresses a situation where a supply or resource becomes exhausted.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Phrasal verb
  • Structure: run out of + noun
  • Verb forms: run out of / ran out of / run out of

Examples of usage patterns:

  • “We ran out of milk.”
  • “Don’t run out of time before finishing.”

It can also be used in the passive or continuous form:

  • “The printer is running out of ink.”

Common Phrases

  • run out of time — to have no more time left
  • run out of money — to spend all your money
  • run out of patience — to lose patience
  • run out of fuel — to have no more gas or energy
  • run out of ideas — to stop having new thoughts or plans

Collocations

  • completely run out of
  • almost run out of
  • suddenly run out of
  • run out of stock
  • run out of space

Examples

  1. We ran out of coffee this morning, so I had tea instead.
  2. My phone battery ran out of power before the meeting ended.
  3. They ran out of tickets for the concert in just one hour.
  4. She ran out of patience and started shouting.
  5. The car ran out of gas in the middle of the highway.
  6. I’m afraid we’re running out of time to finish this project.
  7. He ran out of excuses for being late.
  8. The shop ran out of bread because of the storm.
  9. Don’t forget to buy paper—we’ve run out of it again.
  10. We can’t continue; we’ve run out of options.
  • exhaust
  • deplete
  • use up
  • be out of
  • finish

Antonym

  • restock
  • refill
  • replenish
  • renew