run

Syllabification: (run)

Pronunciation: /rən/

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Definition of run

verb (runs, running; past ran /ran/; past participle run)

1 [no object] move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time:the dog ran across the road she ran the last few yards, breathing heavily he hasn’t paid for his drinks—run and catch him
run as a sport or for exercise:I run every morning
(of an athlete or a racehorse) compete in a race:she ran in the 200 meters [with object]:Dave has run 42 marathons
[with object] enter (a racehorse) for a race.
Baseball (of a batter or base runner) attempt to advance to the next base.
(of hounds) chase or hunt their quarry.
(of a boat) sail directly before the wind, especially in bad weather.
(of a migratory fish) go upriver from the sea in order to spawn.

2 [no object] move about in a hurried and hectic way:I’ve spent the whole day running around after the kids
(run to) have rapid recourse to (someone) for support or help:don’t come running to me for a handout

3pass or cause to pass quickly or smoothly in a particular direction: [no object]:the rumor ran through the pack of photographers [with object]:Helen ran her fingers through her hair
move or cause to move somewhere forcefully or with a particular result: [no object]:the tanker ran aground off the Aleutian Islands [with object]:a woman ran a stroller into the back of my legs
[with object] informal fail to stop at (a red traffic light).
[with object] navigate (rapids or a waterfall) in a boat.
extend or cause to extend in a particular direction: [no object]:cobbled streets run down to a tiny harbor [with object]:he ran a wire under the carpet
[no object] (run in) (of a quality, trait, or condition) be common or inherent in members of (a particular family), especially over several generations:weight problems run in my family
[no object] pass into or reach a specified state or level:inflation is running at 11 percent [with complement]:the decision ran counter to previous government commitments

4(with reference to a liquid) flow or cause to flow: [no object, with adverbial of direction]:a small river runs into the sea at one side of the castle [with object]:she ran cold water into the sink
[with object] cause water to flow over (something):I ran my hands under the faucet
[with object] fill (a bath) with water: [with two objects]:I’ll run you a nice hot bath
(run with) be covered or streaming with (a particular liquid):his face was running with sweat
emit or exude a liquid:she was weeping loudly, and her nose was running
(of a solid substance) melt and become fluid:it was so hot that the butter ran
(of the sea, the tide, or a river) rise higher or flow more quickly:there was still a heavy sea running
(of dye or color in fabric or paper) dissolve and spread when the fabric or paper becomes wet:the red dye ran when the socks were washed
(of a stocking or pair of tights) develop a ravel.

5 [no object] (of a bus, train, ferry, or other form of transportation) make a regular journey on a particular route:buses run into town every half hour
[with object] put (a particular form of public transportation) in service:the group is drawing up plans to run trains on key routes
[with object] take (someone) somewhere in a car:I’ll run you home

6 [with object] be in charge of; manage:Andrea runs her own catering business [as adjectivein combination]: (-run)an attractive family-run hotel
[no object] (of a system, organization, or plan) operate or proceed in a particular way:everything’s running according to plan
organize and make available for other people:we decided to run a series of seminars
carry out (a test or procedure):he asked the army to run tests on the anti nerve-gas pills
own, maintain, and use (a vehicle).

7be in or cause to be in operation; function or cause to function: [no object]:the car runs on unleaded fuel [with object]:a number of peripherals can be run off one SCSI port
move or cause to move between the spools of a recording machine: [with object]:I ran the tape back [no object]:the tape has run out

8 [no object] continue or be valid or operative for a particular period of time:the course ran for two days this particular debate will run on and on
[with adverbial or complement] happen or arrive at the specified time:the program was running fifteen minutes late
(of a play or exhibition) be staged or presented:the play ran on Broadway last year

9 [no object] be a candidate in a political election:he announced that he intended to run for President
[with object] (especially of a political party) sponsor (a candidate) in an election:they ran their first candidate for the school board

10publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine: [with object]:the tabloids ran the story [no object]:when the story ran, there was a big to-do
[no object] (of a story, argument, or piece of writing) have a specified wording or contents:“Tapestries slashed!” ran the dramatic headline

11 [with object] bring (goods) into a country illegally and secretly; smuggle:they run drugs for the cocaine cartels

12 [with two objects] (of an object or act) cost (someone) (a specified amount):a new photocopier will run us about $1,300

noun

1 [usually in singular] an act or spell of running:I usually go for a run in the morning a cross-country run
a running pace:Bobby set off at a run
an opportunity or attempt to achieve something:their absence means the Russians will have a clear run at the title
a preliminary test of the efficiency of a procedure or system:if you are styling your hair yourself, have a practice run
an attempt to secure election to political office:his run for the Republican nomination
an annual mass migration of fish up a river to spawn, or their return migration afterward:the annual salmon runs

2a journey accomplished or route taken by a vehicle, aircraft, or boat, especially on a regular basis:the New York-Washington run
a short excursion made in a car:we could take a run out to the country
the distance covered in a specified period, especially by a ship:a record run of 398 miles from noon to noon
a short flight made by an aircraft on a straight and even course at a constant speed before or while dropping bombs.

3 Baseball a point scored when a base runner reaches home plate after touching the other bases.
Cricket a point scored by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets, or awarded in some other circumstances.

4a continuous spell of a particular situation or condition:he’s had a run of bad luck
a continuous series of performances:the play had a long run on Broadway
a quantity or amount of something produced at one time:a production run of only 150 cars
a continuous stretch or length of something:long runs of copper piping
a rapid series of musical notes forming a scale.
a sequence of cards of the same suit.

5 (a run on) a widespread and sudden or continuous demand for (a particular currency or commodity):there’s been a big run on nostalgia toys this year
a sudden demand for repayment from a bank made by a large number of lenders:growing nervousness among investors led to a run on some banks

6 (the run of) free and unrestricted use of or access to:her cats were given the run of the house

7 (the run) [usually with adjective] the average or usual type of person or thing:she stood out from the general run of varsity cheerleaders

8an enclosed area in which domestic animals or birds can run freely in the open:a chicken run
[usually with adjective] a track made or regularly used by a particular animal:a badger run
a sloping snow-covered course or track used for skiing, bobsledding, or tobogganing:a ski run
Australian/New Zealand a large open stretch of land used for pasture or the raising of stock:one of the richest cattle runs of the district

9a line of unraveled stitches in stockings or tights.

10a downward trickle of paint or a similar substance when applied too thickly.

11a small stream or brook.

12 (the runs) informal diarrhea.

13 Nautical the after part of a ship’s bottom where it rises and narrows toward the stern.

Phrases

be run off one's feet: see foot.
come running: be eager to do what someone wants:he had only to snap his fingers, and she would come running
give someone/something a (good) run for their money: provide someone or something with challenging competition or opposition.
have a (good) run for one's money: derive reward or enjoyment in return for one’s outlay or efforts.
on the run
run a blockade: see blockade.
run afoul (or foul) of
run dry: (of a well or river) cease to flow or have any water.; (especially of a source of money or information) be completely used up:municipal relief funds had long since run dry
run an errand: carry out an errand, typically on someone else’s behalf.
(make a) run for it: attempt to escape someone or something by running away.
run the gauntlet: see gauntlet².
run high: see high.
run oneself into the ground: see ground¹.
run its course: see course.
run low (or short): become depleted:supplies had run short; have too little of something:we’re running short of time
run a mile: see mile.
run off at the mouth: informal talk excessively or indiscreetly.
run someone out of town: force someone to leave a place.
run rings around: see ring¹.
run riot: see riot.
run the risk (or run risks): see risk.
run the show: informal dominate or be in charge of a project, undertaking, or domain.
run a temperature (or fever): be suffering from a fever or high temperature.
run someone/something to earth (or ground): Hunting chase a quarry to its lair.; find someone or something, typically after a long search.
run to ruin: archaic fall into disrepair; gradually deteriorate.
run to seed: see seed.
run wild: see wild.

Phrasal Verbs

run across: meet or find by chance:I just thought you might have run across him before
run after: informal seek to acquire or attain; pursue persistently:businesses that have spent years running after the boomer market; seek the company of (someone) with the aim of developing a romantic or sexual relationship with them.
run against: archaic collide with (someone).; happen to meet:I ran against Flanagan the other day
run along: [in imperative] informal go away (used typically to address a child):run along now, there’s a good girl
run around with: see run with (sense 2 phrasalVerbs).
run at: rush toward (someone) to attack or as if to attack them.
run away: leave or escape from a place, person, or situation of danger:children who run away from home normally go to big cities; (also informalrun off) leave one’s home or current partner in order to establish a relationship with someone else:he ran off with his wife’s best friend Fran, let’s run away together; try to avoid acknowledging or facing up to an unpleasant or difficult situation:the commissioners are running away from their responsibilities
run away with
run something by (or past): tell (someone) about something, especially in order to ascertain their opinion or reaction.
run someone/something down
run something down (or run down): reduce (or become reduced) in size, numbers, or resources:hardwood stocks in some countries are rapidly running down; lose (or cause to lose) power; stop (or cause to stop) functioning:the battery has run down; gradually deteriorate (or cause to deteriorate) in quality or condition:the property had been allowed to run down
run someone in: informal arrest someone.
run into
run off: see run away above.
run off with: informal steal:the treasurer had run off with the pension funds
run something off
run on
run out
run out on: informal abandon (someone); cease to support or care for.
run over
run someone/something over: (of a vehicle or its driver) knock a person or animal down and pass over their body:I almost ran over that raccoon
run through
run someone/something through: stab a person or animal so as to kill them.
run through (or over) something: discuss, read, or repeat something quickly or briefly:I’ll just run through the schedule for the weekend; rehearse a performance or series of actions:okay, let’s run through Scene 3 again
run to
run something up
run up against: experience or meet (a difficulty or problem):the proposal has been dropped because it could run up against Federal regulations
run with

Derivatives

runnable

Origin:

Old English rinnan, irnan (verb), of Germanic origin, probably reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse rinna, renna. The current form with -u- in the present tense is first recorded in the 16th century

On the use of verbs used with and instead of a to infinitive, as in run and fetch the paper, see and (usage).

run in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of run in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

verb (runs, running; past ran /ran/; past participle run)

noun

Phrases

be run off one's feet

come running

give someone/something a (good) run for their money

have a (good) run for one's money

on the run

run a blockade

run afoul (or foul) of

run dry

run an errand

(make a) run for it

run the gauntlet

run high

run oneself into the ground

run its course

run low (or short)

run a mile

run off at the mouth

run someone out of town

run rings around

run riot

run the risk (or run risks)

run the show

run a temperature (or fever)

run someone/something to earth (or ground)

run to ruin

run to seed

run wild

Phrasal Verbs

run across

run after

run against

run along

run around with

run at

run away

run away with

run something by (or past)

run someone/something down

run something down (or run down)

run someone in

run into

run off

run off with

run something off

run on

run out

run out on

run over

run someone/something over

run through

run someone/something through

run through (or over) something

run to

run something up

run up against

run with

Derivatives

runnable

Origin:

run in other Oxford dictionaries

Reference to run in Language Resources

Nearby words

More results for run

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