run off

verb

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

"run-off" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“run off” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To flee or depart quickly.

Corpus desk

Index EN-run-off · run off · English

run off · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "R" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for run off
PropertyValue
Headwordrun off
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “run off” in English

run offfalls 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.

Rare enough to double-check

run off is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 10 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for run off in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct English form is run off, spelled R-U-N- -O-F-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    To flee or depart quickly.
  2. 2
    To make photocopies, or print.
  3. 3
    To write something quickly.
  4. 4
    To pour or spill off or over.
  5. 5
    To cause to flow away.
  6. 6
    To chase someone away.
  7. 7
    To operate by a particular energy or fuel source.
  8. 8
    To have diarrhea.
  9. 9
    To recite, especially items on a list.
  10. 10
    To steal (horses).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how run off appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Don't run off before the end of the event.
  2. He ran off to France leaving her with all the debts and three children to bring up.

This word in other languages

echar(Español)

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 off"?
"run off" is spelled R-U-N- -O-F-F.
What does "run off" mean?
As a verb, "run off" means: To flee or depart quickly.
What language does "run off" come from?
"run off" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list