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Synonyms

run-in

American  
[ruhn-in] / ˈrʌnˌɪn /

noun

  1. a quarrel; argument.

  2. Printing. matter that is added to a text, especially without indenting for a new paragraph.

adjective

  1. Printing. added to a text without indenting.

run in British  

verb

  1. to run (an engine) gently, usually for a specified period when it is new, in order that the running surfaces may become polished

  2. (tr) to insert or include

  3. (intr) (of an aircraft) to approach a point or target

  4. informal (tr) to take into custody; arrest

    he was run in for assault
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal an argument or quarrel

    he had a run-in with the boss yesterday

  2. an approach to the end of an event, etc

    the run-in to the championship

  3. printing matter inserted in an existing paragraph

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
run in Idioms  

  1. Insert or include something extra, as in Can you run this map in with the text? [Early 1800s]

  2. Also, run on . In printing, make a solid body of text without a paragraph or other break, as in The quotation should be run in rather than set as a paragraph .

  3. Also, run someone in . Take someone into custody, as in The police were going to run him in, but he got away . [ Slang ; mid-1800s]

  4. Visit someone briefly, as in If I have time, I'll run in to see Aunt Mary . [Second half of 1800s]

  5. Break something or someone in, as in Let's run in the new model on a short flight . [Early 1900s] Also see run into .

Etymology

Origin of run-in

First recorded in 1900–05; noun, adj. use of verb phrase run in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Arsenal's run-in looks favourable too, with just two games left to play against the current top six.

From BBC

Father once told of an unfortunate run-in he had with a bear when he was a pup, but that was far from our new territory.

From Literature

"When you're taking the advertising boards and putting them really close to the sidelines, you have a short run-in," Gronnemark said.

From BBC

Denver have a well-timed bye next week before the run-in, where they have to target the top seed in the AFC and home advantage in the play-offs.

From BBC

Who has the best run-in between the Patriots, Colts and Broncos?

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.