1
British
: the final part of a race or racetrack
2
3
: something inserted as a substantial addition in copy or typeset matter
ran in; run in; running in; runs in
1
a
: to insert as additional matter
b
: to make (typeset matter) continuous without a paragraph or other break
2
: to arrest for a usually minor offense
3
chiefly British
: to break in (a new machine) gradually by careful operation
: to pay a casual visit
Synonyms
Examples of run-in in a Sentence
Noun
the rival gangs had a bit of a run-in last night
Verb
I just thought I'd run in and pick up my package.
if we catch you shoplifting again, we're going to run you in
Recent Examples on the Web
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
The intrigue: 7-Eleven had a run-in with the Federal Trade Commission back in 2021.
—Kimberly Chin, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024
Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
With the Summer Olympics wrapping Snoop Dogg’s epic run in Paris and the arrival of Latto’s Sugar Honey Iced Tea album, hip-hop continued to make waves.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for run-in 
Noun
Mandy Rose, who competed in the combine and impressed, made a surprise run-in punctuated by a knee strike on Shazza McKenzie.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
The intrigue: 7-Eleven had a run-in with the Federal Trade Commission back in 2021.
—Kimberly Chin, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024
Verb
Did this hunk of rock in front of you get left behind by New Zealand when the last supercontinent split apart, or was it deposited here by a river that hasn’t run in ninety million years?
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
With the Summer Olympics wrapping Snoop Dogg’s epic run in Paris and the arrival of Latto’s Sugar Honey Iced Tea album, hip-hop continued to make waves.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for run-in
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'run-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near run-in
Cite this Entry
“Run-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run-in. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
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