ran out of

USAGE SUMMARY

"ran out of" is an acceptable phrase that can be used in written English.
It means to completely use up all of something or to exhaust a supply of something. For example: "I ran out of milk, so I had to go to the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They soon ran out of virgin land.

The New Yorker

We ran out of legs.

Independent

He ran out of gas.

Independent

"Just ran out of gas".

The New York Times - Sports

"I ran out of dough".

The New York Times - Food

Eventually the General ran out of steam.

The New York Times

I ran out of real estate".

The New York Times - Sports

Then suddenly we ran out of land.

The New Yorker

People ran out of the building.

The New York Times

But Brazil then ran out of puff.

The Economist

I just ran out of money.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ran out of", ensure the context clearly indicates what was depleted and the consequences of the depletion. For example, "The company ran out of funding, leading to project delays" is more informative than simply saying "The company ran out of".

Common error

Avoid using "ran out of" without specifying the noun it refers to. Saying "We ran out" is incomplete; specify what you ran out of, such as "We ran out of time" or "We ran out of options."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ran out of" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the exhaustion or depletion of a resource or item. It connects a subject with the state of no longer possessing or having access to something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, backed by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ran out of" is a very common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to indicate the depletion of a resource or item. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It primarily functions to communicate a lack or shortage, typically in a neutral register suitable for various contexts. While widely used in News & Media, it's important to use the phrase precisely, specifying what exactly was depleted to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "exhausted the supply of" or "depleted the stock of" may be considered for more formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was completely out of

Emphasizes the state of being without something, often unexpectedly.

had no more

A simpler and more direct way to express the lack of something.

used up completely

A more explicit and less idiomatic way of saying something has been entirely used.

exhausted the supply of

Replaces the phrasal verb with a more formal and explicit description of depletion.

finished the last of

Highlights the completion of using something, leaving nothing remaining.

depleted the stock of

Similar to 'exhausted the supply', but uses 'stock' to emphasize a limited quantity.

there was nothing left of

Emphasizes the complete absence of something after it has been used up.

consumed entirely

Focuses on the act of using something up completely, rather than the state of being out of it.

reached the end of

Implies a finality, suggesting that a limit has been reached.

suffered a shortage of

Focuses on the negative consequence of not having enough of something.

FAQs

How can I use "ran out of" in a sentence?

You can use "ran out of" to indicate that a supply of something has been completely used or exhausted. For example, "I "ran out of" milk this morning" or "The company "ran out of" time to complete the project".

What's a more formal way to say "ran out of"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "exhausted the supply of", "depleted the stock of", or "consumed entirely" instead of ""ran out of"".

Is it correct to say "run out of" or "ran out of"?

"Ran out of" is the past tense of "run out of". Use "ran out of" when describing a past event, and "run out of" when describing a potential future event or a general possibility. For example, "I "ran out of" gas yesterday", but "We might "run out of" time if we don't hurry".

What's the difference between "ran out of" and "was out of"?

"Ran out of" implies a process of depletion leading to a state of being out of something. "Was out of" simply describes the state of not having something. For example, "We "ran out of" coffee because we drank it all", versus "We "were out of" coffee, so I went to the store".