1
: a final race, contest, or election to decide an earlier one that has not resulted in a decision in favor of any one competitor
2
: the portion of precipitation on land that ultimately reaches streams often with dissolved or suspended material
ran off; run off; running off; runs off
1
a
: to recite, compose, or produce rapidly
b
: to cause to be run or played to a finish
c
: to decide (a race) by a runoff
d
2
: to drain off : draw off
3
a
: to drive off (someone, such as a trespasser)
b
: to steal (animals, such as cattle) by driving away
see also run off with
Examples of runoff in a Sentence
Verb
the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property
their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again
Recent Examples on the Web
Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
Alongside fellow Georgia Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock, Ossoff's win in a Jan. 2021 runoff election secured him a first term in Congress and his party a chamber majority.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2025
Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
The Sox added another four runs off Imanaga’s replacement, Chris Flexen, who started for their cursed 2024 team.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
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Noun
For a Republican to reach the runoff election in November 2026 and have a real shot at winning the race in the heavily Democratic state, GOP candidates will have to unite behind a single candidate during the primary, Bianco said.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
Alongside fellow Georgia Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock, Ossoff's win in a Jan. 2021 runoff election secured him a first term in Congress and his party a chamber majority.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2025
Verb
Ben dominated the second match, running off 11 unanswered after going 0-6 down by essentially playing 2-on-1.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
The Sox added another four runs off Imanaga’s replacement, Chris Flexen, who started for their cursed 2024 team.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for runoff
Cite this Entry
“Runoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runoff. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runoff
1 of 2 noun
run·off
ˈrən-ˌȯf 
1
: a final contest or election to decide an earlier one that has not given the victory to one competitor
2
: water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams
run off
2 of 2 verbˈrən-ˈȯf,
ˌrən-
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