# run into

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/run-into
Updated: 2026-08-12

## Definition

to meet someone by accident in a public place. It also means to hit something with your vehicle by mistake.

For teachers: to encounter a person unexpectedly; to collide with an object while operating a vehicle.

## Examples

- I ran into an old friend at the supermarket today.
- I was walking to the library when I ran into my former history teacher.
- The driver lost control on the icy road and ran into a parked car, causing significant damage to both vehicles.

## Usage notes

- The phrasal verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.