run out
— phrasal verb with run uk/rʌn/us/rʌn/verb present participle running, past tense ran, past participle run
B1 to finish, use, or sell all of something, so that there is none left:
I've run out of milk/money/ideas/patience.
"Do you have any milk?" "Sorry, I've run out."
B2 If a supply of something runs out, all of it has been used or it is completely finished:
The milk has run out.
My patience is beginning to run out.
If a document or official agreement runs out, the period of time for which it lasts finishes:
My passport runs out next month - I must get it renewed.
time is running out
used to say that there is not much time left in which to achieve something:
Time is running out for the men trapped under the rubble.
More examples
- We've run out of toilet roll.
- I'll have to stop you there, we've run out of time.
- I've run out of milk - would you like some creamer instead?
- They squatted (in) an old house in King's Cross when their money ran out.
- The lease runs out in two years' time.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Using and misusing
- adopt
- adoption
- advantage
- avail
- avail yourself of sth
- be/go heavy on sth idiom
- go into sth
- go through sth
- gobble sth up
- heavy
- make capital out of sth idiom
- max
- mine
- upcycle
- upcycling
- usable
- usage
- use
- use sth up
- wear
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Coming to an end
Spending time & time passing