run out
use all of something so there is none left
What does "run out of sth" mean?
Examples
- We've run out of milk — can you pick some up on the way home?
- The project failed because they ran out of money before it was finished.
- She kept talking even though she'd clearly run out of things to say.
How to use it
This is the standard pattern. The noun after 'of' is the supply that has been completely used up.
The team ran out of ideas halfway through the project.
Use the continuous form to show that the supply is actively decreasing and will soon be gone — this often adds a sense of urgency.
We're running out of time, so let's make a decision now.
The present perfect is very common when you want to say that a supply has just reached zero and this is relevant now.
I can't print the document — I've run out of ink.
When the supply is already clear from context, you can replace the noun with a pronoun after 'of'.
We had a lot of coffee this morning, but we've run out of it already.
Use this pattern to warn that a supply will be exhausted soon if nothing changes.
At this rate, the café is going to run out of food before lunchtime.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Learners often leave out 'of' and put the noun directly after 'run out', but this is incorrect. The full three-part form 'run out of' must always be used with an object.
'Run out of' means nothing is left at all, while 'run low on' means you still have some but not much. Use 'run out of' only when the supply has completely reached zero.
You cannot make 'run out of' passive. The subject is always the person or group who exhausts the supply, never the supply itself.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in any situation — from casual conversation to business emails. The short form 'run out' (without 'of') is also perfectly natural when the context is clear, for example: 'Quick, we're running out!'
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 'we've been running out of milk'?
This form sounds very unnatural and is best avoided. The present perfect continuous doesn't work well with 'run out of' because the event of exhausting a supply is a single point, not a continuous activity. Use 'we've run out of milk' or 'we're running out of milk' instead.
Does 'run out of' only work with physical things like food or fuel?
No — it is just as natural with abstract things. People very commonly say 'run out of patience', 'run out of ideas', 'run out of options', or even 'run out of excuses'. Any resource that can be gradually used up and eventually reach zero can work with this phrasal verb.
What is the difference between 'run out of' and 'use up'?
'Use up' focuses on the action of consuming a resource ('they used up all the budget on marketing'). 'Run out of' focuses on the result — the fact that nothing is left ('they ran out of budget'). Both are correct, but the emphasis is slightly different.
Can I leave out the noun if it's already obvious from context?
Yes, but only by using the shorter two-part form 'run out' without 'of'. For example, if everyone knows you're talking about time, you can say 'Hurry up — we're running out!' However, this is a different form of the verb. If you include a noun or pronoun, you must keep 'of': 'we've run out of it', not 'we've run out it'.
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