Meaning of run in English
Table of contents
Pronunciation
/rən/US accent
UK accent
to browse different examples of pronunciation.Verb
runEtymology
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 centuryDefinitions
1. move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given timeExamples
- « Don't run--you'll be out of breath »
- « The children ran to the store »
Derived terms
- 2. flee
Examples
- « take to one's heels »
- « cut and run »
- « If you see this man, run! »
- « The burglars escaped before the police showed up »
Derived terms
- 3. stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope
Examples
- « run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point »
- « Service runs all the way to Cranbury »
- « His knowledge doesn't go very far »
- « My memory extends back to my fourth year of life »
- « The facts ex »
Derived terms
- 4. direct or control
Examples
- « projects, businesses, etc. »
- « She is running a relief operation in the Sudan »
Derived terms
- 5. have a particular form
Examples
- « the story or argument runs as follows »
- « as the saying goes... »
- 6. move along, of liquids
Examples
- « Water flowed into the cave »
- « the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi »
Derived terms
- 7. perform as expected when applied
Examples
- « The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in »
- « Does this old car still run well? »
- « This old radio doesn't work anymore »
Antonyms
Derived terms
- 8. change or be different within limits
Examples
- « Estimates for the losses in the earthquake range as high as $2 billion »
- « Interest rates run from 5 to 10 percent »
- « The instruments ranged from tuba to cymbals »
- « My students range from very bright to dull »
Derived terms
- 9. run, stand, or compete for an office or a position
Examples
- « Who's running for treasurer this year? »
Derived terms
- 10. cause to emit recorded sounds
Examples
- « They ran the tapes over and over again »
- « Can you play my favorite record? »
- 11. move about freely and without restraint, or act as if running around in an uncontrolled way
Examples
- « who are these people running around in the building? »
- « She runs around telling everyone of her troubles »
- « let the dogs run free »
- 12. have a tendency or disposition to do or be something
Examples
- « be inclined »
- « She tends to be nervous before her lectures »
- « These dresses run small »
- « He inclined to corpulence »
Derived terms
- 13. carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
Examples
- « Run the dishwasher »
- « run a new program on the Mac »
- « the computer executed the instruction »
- 14. be operating, running or functioning
Examples
- « The car is still running--turn it off! »
Antonyms
Derived terms
- 15. change from one state to another
Examples
- « run amok »
- « run rogue »
- « run riot »
- 16. cause to perform
Examples
- « run a subject »
- « run a process »
- 17. be affected by
Examples
- « be subjected to »
- « run a temperature »
- « run a risk »
- 18. continue to exist
Examples
- « These stories die hard »
- « The legend of Elvis endures »
Derived terms
- 19. occur persistently
Examples
- « Musical talent runs in the family »
- 20. include as the content
Examples
- « broadcast or publicize »
- « We ran the ad three times »
- « This paper carries a restaurant review »
- « All major networks carried the press conference »
- 21. carry out
Examples
- « run an errand »
- 22. guide or pass over something
Examples
- « He ran his eyes over her body »
- « She ran her fingers along the carved figurine »
- « He drew her hair through his fingers »
- 23. cause something to pass or lead somewhere
Examples
- « Run the wire behind the cabinet »
- 24. make without a miss
Derived terms
- 25. deal in illegally, such as arms or liquor
Derived terms
- 26. cause an animal to move fast
Examples
- « run the dogs »
Derived terms
- 27. be diffused
Examples
- « These dyes and colors are guaranteed not to run »
- 28. sail before the wind
- 29. cover by running
Examples
- « run a certain distance »
- « She ran 10 miles that day »
Derived terms
- 30. extend or continue for a certain period of time
Examples
- « The film runs 5 hours »
- 31. set animals loose to graze
- 32. keep company
Examples
- « the heifers run with the bulls ot produce offspring »
Derived terms
- 33. run with the ball
Examples
- « in such sports as football »
Derived terms
- 34. travel rapidly, by any (unspecified) means
Examples
- « Run to the store! »
- « She always runs to Italy, because she has a lover there »
Derived terms
- 35. travel a route regularly
Examples
- « Ships ply the waters near the coast »
Derived terms
- 36. pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
Examples
- « Goering often hunted wild boars in Poland »
- « The dogs are running deer »
- « The Duke hunted in these woods »
Derived terms
- 37. compete in a race
Examples
- « he is running the Marathon this year »
- « let's race and see who gets there first »
Derived terms
- 38. progress by being changed
Examples
- « The speech has to go through several more drafts »
- « run through your presentation before the meeting »
Derived terms
- 39. reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
Examples
- « melt butter »
- « melt down gold »
- « The wax melted in the sun »
Derived terms
- 40. come unraveled or undone as if by snagging
Examples
- « Her nylons were running »
Derived terms
- 41. become undone
Examples
- « the sweater unraveled »
Derived terms
Noun
runDefinitions
1. a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safelyExamples
- « the Yankees scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th »
- « their first tally came in the 3rd inning »
Derived terms
- 2. the act of testing something
Examples
- « in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately »
- « he called each flip of the coin a new trial »
Derived terms
- 3. a race run on foot
Examples
- « she broke the record for the half-mile run »
Derived terms
- 4. an unbroken series of events
Examples
- « had a streak of bad luck »
- « Nicklaus had a run of birdies »
- 5. (American football) a play in which a player runs with the ball
Examples
- « the defensive line braced to stop the run »
- « the coach put great emphasis on running »
- 6. a regular trip
Examples
- « the ship made its run in record time »
Derived terms
- 7. the act of running
Examples
- « traveling on foot at a fast pace »
- « he broke into a run »
- « his daily run keeps him fit »
- 8. the continuous period of time during which something (a machine or a factory) operates or continues in operation
Examples
- « the assembly line was on a 12-hour run »
- 9. unrestricted freedom to use
Examples
- « he has the run of the house »
- 10. the production achieved during a continuous period of operation (of a machine or factory etc.)
Examples
- « a daily run of 100,000 gallons of paint »
- 11. a small stream
Derived terms
- 12. a race between candidates for elective office
Examples
- « I managed his campaign for governor »
- « he is raising money for a Senate run »
Derived terms
- 13. a row of unravelled stitches
Examples
- « she got a run in her stocking »
Derived terms
- 14. the pouring forth of a fluid
Derived terms
- 15. an unbroken chronological sequence
Examples
- « the play had a long run on Broadway »
- « the team enjoyed a brief run of victories »
- 16. a short trip
Examples
- « take a run into town »
Derived terms
Famous quotes
- « Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. » Ronald Reagan
- « I've decided to run for the U.S. Senate because I believe Wisconsin families need a senator who will work hard to deliver results for the middle class - a leader with the courage to do what's right, no matter how tough the odds or how powerful the special interests we have to fight. » Tammy Baldwin
- « You can't just let nature run wild. » Walt Disney
- « When I come home, my daughter will run to the door and give me a big hug, and everything that's happened that day just melts away. » Hugh Jackman
- « Like most people I can be lazy, so it's nice to have a goal or deadline or reason to work out. I feel better when I get to exercise, or when I'm outdoors. I like to hike, swim and run, and I love to play soccer. » Viggo Mortensen