Run into Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Social Surprise Use 'run into' when you unexpectedly meet someone you know. You'll never guess who I ran into at the gym! Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Context 'Run into' is often neutral but can be positive or negative based on who you meet. It made my day to run into my best friend en route to an interview. Pro Tip 3/3Common Places 'Run into' frequently happens in places where people gather, like malls or events. At the festival, we ran into several college classmates.