Meaning trap

run into

meet by chance

to meet someone unexpectedly, usually by accident.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

meet by chance

to meet someone unexpectedly, usually by accident.

run into (hit or collide with)

Another meaning of 'run into' is 'hit or collide with'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket yesterday.daily life
Last weekend, I ran into an old friend while I was shopping in the city centre. We hadn't seen each other for years, so it was a nice surprise.IELTS speaking

Pattern: run into + someone

WrongI ran into with my teacher in town.

RightI ran into my teacher in town.

'Run into' takes the person directly — no 'with'.

Patternrun into + someone

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I encountered an old acquaintance at the supermarket.

Natural I ran into an old friend at the shop.

'Run into' is the everyday verb for meeting someone by chance; 'encountered an acquaintance' is formal.

Words that usually travel with it.

'Run into' (meet by chance) is different from 'meet up with', which usually means you planned to meet.

run into (hit or collide with) — Another meaning of 'run into' is 'hit or collide with'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.