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to run out

to run out

88 2.9
Stop being valid after a set time
  • phrasal verb
  • /rʌn aʊt/
translation icon : vencer
  • I have to be done in four years because the scholarship runs out then.
  • time runs out

Interestingly enough, his appointment at Doge is supposed to run out at the end of May.

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Examples

  • The contract will run out after the end of this year if not renewed.

  • Her visa will run out next month, so she needs to renew it soon.

  • What am I supposed to do when this runs out?

  • Our instructions run out after the show.

  • Somehow, I had to do all this before my time ran out, or die trying.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • And then when the time runs out, you're done.

  • "You can put things off only so long before time runs out on you," Vinny said.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • But if we take too long making a thorough assessment, we may run out of options for her day-to-day care.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Interestingly enough, his appointment at Doge is supposed to run out at the end of May.

  • Make sure to check when your subscription will run out to avoid losing access.

Synonyms

to expire
vsto run out
197 3.7

Stop being valid after a fixed time, for example a passport or card

is the general phrase for stopping validity once a set period passes
to lapse
vsto run out
6 5.1

To end when it is not renewed

refers specifically to ending because the set time passed

Antonyms

175 2.8

Make a card or agreement valid again after it ends

How Long

to remain
1.0
to run out
88 2.9

Surface Forms

run out infinitive
running out present participle
runs out third person singular
ran out past
ran out past participle

Morphology

run + out

The meaning 'to leave a place suddenly' is directly derivable from 'run' (move quickly on foot) plus 'out' (to the outside), following a common English motion verb + particle pattern. This compositional structure is cross-linguistically familiar and therefore a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer this sense (noting that other idiomatic senses of 'run out' exist, but they do not affect this transparent motion-reading).

Etymology

Run out uses the picture of time or sand moving until it is gone, like an hourglass emptying. That's why a paper or licence can run out and 'stop being valid' when its time is finished.