run into

To meet someone or find something by chance, without planning to.

• I ran into Sam at the shop.
• We’ve run into a problem with the booking.
• Have you ever run into your teacher outside school?

How to use it: run into someone/something (I ran into an old friend at the station.)

Similar words: come across, encounter, bump into

Common phrases: run into someone, run into problems, run into trouble

To hit someone or something accidentally while moving.

• The car ran into a tree.
• I wasn’t looking and ran into the door.
• Did your bike run into that fence?

How to use it: run into someone/something (The cyclist ran into a parked car.)

Similar words: hit, crash into, collide with

Common phrases: run into something, run into someone

To go inside a place while moving quickly on your feet.

• The boy ran into the house.
• We ran into a shop to escape the rain.
• Why did she run into the classroom?

How to use it: run into somewhere (The children ran into the house.)

Similar words: rush into, dash into

Opposites: run out of

Common phrases: run into somewhere, run into school

To reach a large amount, especially of money or time.

• The repair bill ran into thousands.
• Their debts now run into millions of dollars.
• The recording runs into hundreds of hours.

How to use it: run into + large amount (The total cost could run into millions of pounds.)

Similar words: amount to, total, reach

Common phrases: run into millions, run into thousands

To make a vehicle or another moving object hit something.

• He ran his car into a wall.
• She lost control and ran the truck into a tree.
• Did you run the trolley into the door?

How to use it: run something into someone/something (She ran her car into a wall.)

Similar words: crash into, ram into

Common phrases: run something into something, run something into someone

To make colours or liquids flow together and mix.

• Run the blue paint into the yellow.
• She ran the wet colours into each other with a brush.
• Try running the red ink into the clear water.

How to use it: run something into something (Use a wet brush to run the blue paint into the green.)

Similar words: blend, mix

Opposites: separate

Common phrases: run something into something, run colours into something