1 A2 informal
To leave a place quickly and without warning, often irresponsibly
"The kids ran off before I could tell them dinner was ready."
inseparable
run off
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To leave a place quickly and unexpectedly, to print copies of something, or for a liquid to flow away
In plain English
To go away fast, to print something, or when water flows away somewhere
What does "run off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To print or photocopy multiple copies of a document
"Could you run off fifty copies of this handout before the meeting?"
separable
3 B1 neutral
For liquid to flow away or drain from a surface
"The rainwater ran off the roof into the gutters."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To run in an outward or away direction — fairly transparent for the departure sense
Actually means
To go away fast, to print something, or when water flows away somewhere
Usage tip
The 'printing' sense is very common in office settings ('run off some copies'). The departure sense is informal and often implies irresponsibility. British and American English use all senses.
Words that pair with "run off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
copies water excess flyer quickly children
How to conjugate "run off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
run off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
runs off
he/she/it
Past simple
ran off
yesterday
Past participle
run off
have + pp
-ing form
running off
continuous
Hear "run off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "run off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.