How to use "run out of"

What Does "run out of" Mean?

• The collocation "run out of" means to exhaust a supply or quantity of something; to have no more of something remaining. It implies that what was available has been completely used up.
• The meaning is semi-idiomatic. While "run" and "out" have their individual meanings, the combination with "of" creates a specific meaning related to depletion that isn't simply the sum of its parts.
• The register is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to Use It

• The grammatical pattern is: verb "run" + adverb "out" + preposition "of" + noun. The noun is the thing that is being depleted.
• Typical objects that follow "run out of" include nouns referring to tangible items (e.g., gas, milk, money), intangible resources (e.g., time, patience, ideas), and abstract concepts (e.g., steam, superlatives).
• The components of "run out of" cannot be separated. The phrase must remain intact for it to maintain its meaning. For example, you can't say "run of time out".
• What sounds unnatural: Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "run out from"), using an adjective instead of a noun after "of" (e.g., "run out of patient" instead of "run out of patience"), or attempting to separate the components of the phrase.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from run out of on Ludwig.guru.

"Run out of ideas?" — The New York Times

"They run out of time." — The New York Times

"I run out of patience." — The New York Times - Magazine

"Everyone had run out of superlatives anyway." — The New York Times

"Why did they run out of fuel?" — The New Yorker

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/run+out+of

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
be depleted	More formal; emphasizes the state of being reduced.
exhaust the supply of	Formal; emphasizes the act of using something completely.
be short on	Implies a limited supply, but not necessarily complete exhaustion.
use up	More informal and general; focuses on the action of consuming.
be out of	Similar meaning but often used for specific items; more casual.
lack	More formal; focuses on the absence of something.
be devoid of	Very formal; emphasizes a complete absence.

Common Mistakes

• Learners often confuse it with similar phrases or use the incorrect preposition (e.g., "run out from" instead of "run out of").
• Using an adjective after "of" instead of a noun is incorrect (e.g., "run out of patient" instead of "run out of patience").
• Attempting to separate the components of the phrase (e.g., "run of time out") will change or eliminate the meaning.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
run out of	To exhaust a supply or quantity of something; to have no more remaining.	verb + adverb + preposition + noun	Neutral

FAQs

Can the parts of "run out of" be separated, or must they stay together?

No, the parts of "run out of" cannot be separated. It functions as a phrasal verb and prepositional phrase combination, and the meaning is dependent on the components staying together in that specific order. Separating them will result in an ungrammatical or nonsensical sentence.

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How is "run out of" different from "be out of"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of something, "run out of" often implies a process of depletion, whereas "be out of" simply states the current state of not having something. For example, "We ran out of milk" suggests we used all the milk we had, while "We are out of milk" simply means we don't have any milk at the moment, regardless of how it was depleted.

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What's the correct preposition to use with "run out," and what's a common mistake?

The correct preposition to use with "run out" in this context is "of." A common mistake is using "from" instead, as in "run out from," which is incorrect. Remember to always use "run out of" when you want to express that you have exhausted a supply or quantity of something.