Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

run on fumes

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.34 in modern English

Syllables: run on -fumes
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To operate a vehicle that is low on fuel.

verb

To operate with few resources, or be physically or emotionally overworked.

Example Sentences

"We were running on fumes by the time we arrived, but we made it to the next gas station."
"Near-synonyms: run on empty, run out of steam"
"The organization had been running on fumes for months, so it's not surprising that they closed their doors."

Inflected Forms

runs on fumes (present, singular) running on fumes (participle, present) ran on fumes (past)

Phrases

fume date smell of an oily rag

Frequently Paired Words

smell of an oily rag vaporware run on empty

Synonyms

run on empty run out of steam

Questions

What does run on fumes mean?: To operate a vehicle that is low on fuel.

How to pronounce run on fumes

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