run into

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"run-into" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“run into” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To enter by running.

Key facts for run into
PropertyValue
Headwordrun into
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “run into” sits in English frequency

run into falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for run into is 8 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for run into in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct English form is run into, spelled R-U-N- -I-N-T-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    To enter by running.
  2. 2
    To collide with.
  3. 3
    To cause to collide with.
  4. 4
    To unexpectedly encounter or meet someone or something (literally or figuratively).
  5. 5
    To reach, to flow into (a body of water).
  6. 6
    To blend into; to be followed by or adjacent to without there being a clear boundary.
  7. 7
    To cause to blend into.
  8. 8
    To reach a large figure.

This word in other languages

jemandem über den Weg laufen(Deutsch)dar de cara(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "run into"?
"run into" is spelled R-U-N- -I-N-T-O.
What does "run into" mean?
As a verb, "run into" means: To enter by running.
What language does "run into" come from?
"run into" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “run into”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-U-N- -I-N-T-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list