"encounter" vs "run into"

Question

"encounter" vs "run into"

Both 'run into' and 'encounter' are correct phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Run into' is more informal and is often used in casual conversations, while 'encounter' is more formal and can be used in both casual and formal situations.

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

'Encounter' is a more formal term that can be used in various contexts, both casual and formal, to mean meeting someone or something unexpectedly.

Examples:

She encountered a bear while hiking in the woods.
I encountered some difficulties while working on the project.
He encountered a strange situation at the airport.
The team encountered unexpected challenges during the competition.
We may encounter resistance to our proposal.

Alternatives:

come across
meet unexpectedly
face
experience
confront

The phrase 'run into' is used to describe unexpectedly meeting someone or something, often by chance. It is more informal and commonly used in casual conversations.

Examples:

I ran into my old friend at the supermarket.
I hope we don't run into any problems during the project.
I ran into a famous actor at the airport.
She ran into her ex-boyfriend at the party.
We might run into traffic on the way to the concert.

Alternatives:

bump into
come across
meet by chance
stumble upon
encounter unexpectedly

Answer 1

encounter

This phrase is correct and can be used in both casual and formal situations to mean come across or meet someone or something.

Answer 2

run into

This phrase is correct and commonly used in informal conversations to mean unexpectedly meet someone or something.

"encounter" vs "run into"

encounter

run into

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