Run | Mean of run in English Dictionary

/ˈrʌn/

• Verb
• to move with your legs at a speed that is faster than walking
1. How fast can you run?
2. He runs faster than anyone else on the team.
3. She ran up the stairs to get her jacket.
4. We ran for the train—but missed it.
5. I heard her scream and ran to help.
6. She ran to me for help.
7. The dog ran away from me.
8. The dog ran toward me.
9. When I called the dog, he came running.
10. Don't expect me to come running every time you want something. I'm not your servant.
11. The chickens were running loose in the yard.
12. The horses ran wild.
13. He ran at me with a knife. [=he ran toward me with a knife in his hand]
14. He ran back to his ex-girlfriend after I dumped him.
15. You can't keep running away from your problems.
16. Don't come running to me when you get in trouble.
17. Don't let your imagination run wild. I'm sure nothing bad has happened.
• to leave a place quickly by running
1. When the alarm sounded, the robbers ran.
2. He dropped the gun and ran.
3. Quick! Run and get a doctor!
4. The ambushed soldiers ran for cover.
5. They had the enemy running scared.
6. When she saw all the people in the audience, she had a sudden urge to run away.
7. They ran away screaming.
8. When they saw the police, they quickly ran off.
• to run as part of a sport, for exercise, or in a race
1. He ran on the track team in college.
2. She's running in the marathon this year.
3. The horse will not be running in this race.
4. I run six miles every day.
5. She ran a great race. [=she ran very well in the race]
6. He ran track in college.
7. She's running the marathon this year.
8. The marathon will be run tomorrow. [=people will be running the marathon tomorrow]

• to carry and run with (the ball)
1. He ran the football for a 20-yard gain.
2. He ran the kick back [=he caught the ball that was kicked and ran back with it] to the 40-yard line.
3. He ran for 15 yards.
• to run from base to base
1. He runs well and might attempt a steal.
2. He runs the bases well.
• to cause (an animal) to run
1. He ran the horse through the fields.
• to be a candidate in an election for a particular office
1. She is running [=(Brit) standing] for mayor.
2. He is running against her in the upcoming election.
• to direct the business or activities of (something)
1. She runs [=manages] the restaurant/hotel/store.
2. He runs the after-school program.
3. The President is doing a good job running the country.
4. The company is badly/privately run.
5. state/family-run companies
6. I'm old enough to run my own life! [=make my own decisions]
• to do (a test or check) on someone or something
1. The doctors need to run some more tests.
2. The doctors ran some tests on the blood samples.
3. The police ran a security check on him.
• to use and control (something)
1. I'm not licensed to run [=operate] a forklift.
• to put (something) into operation
1. You should run the engine for a few minutes before you start driving.
2. He ran the program (on the computer).
• to function or operate
1. Never leave your car unattended while the engine is running.
2. He didn't know the camera was still running.
3. He had his new computer up and running in no time.
4. This software runs on most computers.
5. The car runs on [=uses] diesel.
• to go on a particular route or at particular times
1. The bus/ferry runs every hour.
2. The train runs between New York and Washington.
3. Trains no longer run on this track.
4. The buses are running late. [=the buses are late]
• to have (a bus, train, ferry, etc.) traveling on a route
1. They run extra trains on Saturdays.
• to make a quick trip to a place for something
1. She ran (up/down) to the store for bread and milk.
2. He ran over to the neighbors for some sugar.
• to drive (someone) a short distance to a place or event
1. I have to run the kids to soccer practice.
• to bring (something) quickly to someone who is at a particular place
1. Wait here. I'm just going to run this in/inside to her.
2. He ran an umbrella out to her before she drove off.
• to do (something that involves making a quick trip)
1. I have a few errands to run after I leave work today.
• to cause (a driver or vehicle) to move in a particular direction
1. That car tried to run me off the road!
2. She ran her car off the road.
3. He ran the car into a tree.
• to move in a particular direction
1. His car ran off the road. = He ran off the road.
• to cause (something) to pass through, over, along, or into something else
1. She ran her fingers through my hair.
2. He ran a brush over the dog's fur.
3. I quickly ran my eyes over/down the list of names.
• to travel or spread in a fast or uncontrolled way
1. Whispers ran through the crowd.
2. A chill ran up/down my spine.
• to go or extend in a particular direction
1. The boundary line runs east.
2. The road runs through the mountain.
3. The highway runs from Boston to New York.
4. My tastes in novels run to/toward science fiction and thrillers. [=I tend to like science fiction and thrillers]
5. Such behavior runs counter to [=such behavior does not agree with] the values of our society.
6. He does nothing that would run against [=go against] his moral principles.
• to cause (something, such as a wire or cable) to go or extend from one point to another
1. He ran the wires up from the basement.
• to bring (something) from one country into another country illegally and secretly
1. He was arrested for running [=smuggling] drugs into the country.
• to flow
1. He left the water running.
2. The river runs down to the valley.
3. The river runs into the gulf.
4. The tide was running out.
5. Sand ran out of the bag.
6. Steam runs through the pipes.
7. Blood was running down his leg.
• to cause (something) to flow or to produce a flow of water
1. She ran the tap/faucet.
2. Run the water until it gets hot.
• to prepare (a bath) by running a faucet
1. She ran a hot bath for her husband. = She ran her husband a hot bath.
• to produce a flow of liquid
1. Chopping the onions made my eyes run. [=water]
2. I knew I was getting sick when my nose started to run.
3. a running sore
• to spread or flow into another area
1. Your eyeliner is running.
2. Mascara ran from her eyes.
3. The paint ran in some spots.
4. The writing was blurred where the ink ran.
• to have a color that spreads onto other pieces of clothing when clothes are washed together
1. Her red shirt ran and made my blue jeans look purple.
2. colors that run
• to continue or remain effective for a particular period of time
1. His contract runs until next season.
2. She received six months on each charge, and the sentences are to run concurrently.
3. The course runs over a six-week period of time.
4. The televised game ran 30 minutes over the scheduled time.
5. The play has run for six months.
6. Things ran smoothly at the office while the boss was away.
• to be or to begin to be something specified
1. The well has run dry.
2. Her creativity has run dry.
3. We are running low on fuel. [=our supply of fuel is getting low]
4. Supplies were running low/short.
5. We ran short of money. [=we did not have enough money]
6. I have to hurry. I'm running late. [=I'm late; I'm behind schedule]
7. The project is running behind schedule.
• to include everything between specified limits
1. The prices for tickets run from $10 to $50.
• to allow charges on (a bill) to add up before paying
1. He ran a tab at the bar.
• to have (an amount of money) as a price
1. The rooms run [=cost] $100 a night.
• to have or reach a particular length, size, or amount
1. The book runs (to) nearly 500 pages.
2. Their annual budget runs to about 5 million dollars.
3. Their yearly income runs into/to six figures. [=their yearly income is more than $100,000]
4. Gas is running at over $4 per gallon. [=gas prices are over $4 per gallon]
• to print or broadcast (something)
1. Every newspaper in the city ran the story.
2. The ad was run in yesterday's newspaper.
3. The news station ran a feature on how to eat healthier.
• to appear in print or on television
1. Many of his stories ran in national magazines.
2. The show has run for five seasons.
• to produce (a copy of a document, newspaper, etc.) using a printer or copying machine
1. 10,000 copies were run for the first edition.
• to have (particular words) in writing or print
1. “We Will Not Lose” ran the headline. [=the headline was/said “We Will Not Lose”]
• to be expressed in words
1. The definition runs as follows …
• to drive past or through (a stop sign or red traffic light) illegally without stopping
1. He ran a red light. = He ran the light.
2. She ran the stop sign.
• to start to have a long hole that continues to get longer
1. The nylons are guaranteed not to run. [=(Brit) ladder]
• to own and maintain (a vehicle)
1. I can't afford to run a car on my salary.
• to meet (someone) or find (something) by chance
1. I ran across [=ran into] an old roommate of mine today.
2. I ran across some old photos from when I was a kid.
• to run toward (someone or something) in an attempt to catch that person or thing
1. The dog ran after [=chased] the squirrel.
• to try to start a romantic relationship with (someone)
1. He's always running after younger women.
• to go away
1. He told the boy to run along home.
2. Run along now, kid. This doesn't concern you.
• to run in an area while playing
1. The children were running around outside.
• to go from place to place in a busy or hurried way
1. I spent the whole day running around doing errands.
• to spend a lot of time with (someone)
1. He runs around with younger women.
• to leave your home suddenly without permission and go somewhere else to live
1. He ran away (from home) at a young age.
2. They ran away [=ran off] together because their families objected to their marriage.
• to avoid a person or situation that makes you feel uncomfortable
1. You shouldn't keep running away. You should face your mom and tell her how you feel.
• to leave a person or place in order to live with and have a sexual relationship with (someone)
1. He left his wife and ran away with [=ran off with] his secretary.
2. She ran away with a man old enough to be her father.
• to leave a place with (something that does not belong to you)
1. The butler ran away with [=stole, ran off with] the family silver.
• to be the best or most popular performer in (a performance)
1. She ran away with [=stole] the show.
• to win (something) very easily
1. She ran away with the election.
2. He ran away with first place.
• to make (someone) do something that is not sensible or reasonable
1. Don't let your imagination run away with you. [=don't let yourself imagine all kinds of things that aren't true]
• to tell (something) to (someone) so that it can be considered, approved, etc.
1. You'd better run this past the boss. [=you'd better tell the boss about this and find out if he/she thinks it is a good idea]
2. He ran some ideas by her.
3. (informal) Can you run that by me again? [=can you repeat what you just said?]
• to hit and knock down (a person or animal) with a vehicle
1. He says she deliberately tried to run him down.
• to chase after and catch (a person or animal)
1. The cops ran the robber down in an alley.
• to find (someone or something) after searching
1. He wasn't in his office, but I finally ran him down in the faculty lounge.
• to use up or cause (something) to use up all of its power
1. The clock ran down. [=the clock slowed down and stopped working because it did not have any more power]
2. The watch's battery ran down.
3. Turn off the radio so you don't run down the batteries.
• to become or cause (something, such as a business or activity) to become gradually smaller
1. The company has been running down for decades.
2. The company has been running down its factories/inventory.
• to criticize (someone or something) in usually an unfair way
1. Don't keep running yourself down like that: you have a lot to offer!
• to say or repeat (a list of people or things) from the beginning to the end
1. Let me just run down all the things we need to do.
2. He ran down the list of names.
• to run to avoid being caught
1. It's the cops! Run for it!
• to be or become very strong or intense
1. Passions often run high in these debates. [=people often get very angry in these debates]
2. Emotions are running high between the two teams.
• to arrest (someone)
1. The police ran him in for being drunk and disorderly.
• to drive (a new vehicle) carefully for a period of time until it is ready for regular use
1. You shouldn't drive a new car too fast while you're running it in. [=breaking it in]
• to move into (someone or something) in a sudden or forceful way
1. He went off the road and ran into a tree. = His car went off the road and ran into a tree.
2. Some guy on a bike almost ran into me!
3. She wasn't paying attention and ran right into the table.
• to meet (someone) by chance
1. I ran into [=ran across] an old classmate the other day.
• to experience (something that is unpleasant or difficult)
1. We ran into some bad weather on our way home.
2. We ran into some problems setting up the computer.
• to leave or abandon a person or place
1. Her husband ran off and left her with two small children to care for.
• to leave a place with (someone or something)
1. Her husband ran off with his secretary.
2. She ran off with all the money.
• to repeat or produce (something) quickly
1. Would you please run off five copies of this letter?
• to force (a person or animal) off your land
1. He ran us off his property.
• to talk about something for a long time
1. He ran on (and on) about politics until everybody was bored.
• to keep going without being stopped or interrupted for a long period of time
1. The meeting ran on for hours.
• to come to an end
1. Time ran out [=expired] before we could tie the game.
2. My contract will run out soon.
• to become used up
1. The gasoline ran out before we got to Denver.
2. Our money finally ran out. [=our money was all used; we had no more money]
• to force (someone) to leave a place
1. An angry mob ran him out of town.
• to run hard to first base after hitting (a batted ball)
1. His manager got angry because he failed to run out a grounder.
• to use up the available supply of (something)
1. We're low on gas. We'd better stop before we run out.
2. He ran out of space and had to put his address on the other side of the paper.
3. You have to work faster. We're running out of time.
• to leave (someone you should stay with)
1. She ran out on her husband and children to be with a man old enough to be her father.
• to go beyond a limit
1. The meeting ran over. [=the meeting was longer than it was expected or planned to be]
• to flow over the top or edge of something
1. The water was running over onto the floor.
• to have a liquid flow over its edge
1. His cup ran over.
• to knock down and drive over or go over (someone or something)
1. The dog was run over by a car.
2. The running back ran over two defenders.
• to read, repeat, or practice (something) quickly
1. Let's run the lines over together one more time.
2. Can you run over the instructions again?
• to spend or use up (something) quickly
1. He ran through his winnings in a short time.
• to occur repeatedly in (something) or throughout (something)
1. The song has been running through my head all morning.
2. Thoughts and memories of home kept running through his mind.
3. A note of despair runs through the narrative.
• to enter (information) into (a computer) for processing
1. She ran his name through the police computer to see if he had any previous arrests.
2. He ran the data through.
• to push a sword through (someone)
1. He ran him through with his sword.
• to raise (a flag) to the top of a flagpole
1. To celebrate our victory, we ran up our flag.
• to achieve (a large score or lead)
1. Our team ran up a big lead in the first quarter.
2. (US) She angrily accused the other coach of deliberately running up the score. [=continuing to try to score more points even though they are not needed to win a game]
• to increase the amount of (something)
1. These extras will run the bill up another $100.
• to get (a large bill, debt, etc.) by buying many things without making payments
1. She ran up a large phone bill.
2. He ran up a lot of debt on his credit cards.
• to experience (something difficult)
1. She has run up against a lot of opposition.
2. He has run up against a bug in his computer program.
• to use (something) in a very energetic, enthusiastic, and effective way
1. He took the idea and ran with it.
• to talk too much and in a foolish way
1. He's always running his mouth about what a great athlete he is.
• Noun
• an act of running
1. He goes for a six-mile run every evening.
2. She took the dogs out for a run.
3. When they realized they might miss the train, they broke into a run. [=started running]
4. The robbers heard the police sirens and made a run for it. [=ran away to avoid being captured]
5. The dog was coming toward us at a run. [=the dog was running toward us]
• a continuous series of similar things
1. We had a long run of cloudy days.
2. a run of good/bad luck
3. a long run of wins/losses
• a continuous series of performances or showings
1. The play had a run of six months on Broadway. = The play had a six-month run on Broadway.
• the amount of a product that is produced at one time
1. The book had a print run of 10,000 copies. [=10,000 copies of the book were printed at one time]
• an attempt to win or do something
1. The team is making a run at the championship. [=the team is playing well and has a chance to win the championship]
2. She made an unsuccessful run for a seat in the Senate. [=she tried to be elected to a seat in the Senate, but she lost the election]
3. (informal) “I can't solve this math problem.” “Let me take a run at it.” [=let me try it]
• the usual or normal kind of person or thing
1. She's not like the average/normal/general/usual run of students. [=she's not like most students]
2. The place is different from the usual run of restaurants.
• a score made in baseball when a player reaches home plate after going around the bases
1. The home team took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth (inning).
2. a three-run lead
• a score made in cricket
• a play in which a player tries to move the ball forward by running with it
1. He scored on a 25-yard run.
• a regular journey that is made by a bus, train, etc.
1. The bus makes four runs daily.
2. a delivery run
3. (Brit) the school run [=a regular trip in which parents take their children to or from school each day]
4. The planes were sent out on a bomb/bombing run.
• a short trip in a vehicle
1. I have to make a quick run to the store.
• a track that slopes down and that is used for skiing, sledding, etc.
1. a ski run [=slope]
2. a bobsled run
• a path that is used regularly by animals
1. a deer run
• an enclosed area for animals where they feed and exercise
1. a chicken run
• a long hole in a stocking
1. She had a run in her stocking/nylons.
• a series of notes that are sung or played quickly up or down a scale
• a situation in which many people want to have, get, or do something at the same time
1. There's been a big run on tickets for the game. [=a lot of people have been trying to get tickets for the game]
2. There was a run on the bank. [=a lot of people were taking their money out of the bank because they were afraid that the bank would fail]
• the general way in which something is moving or changing
1. Investors are anxiously watching the run of the stock market. [=are watching to see if the stock market is going up or down]
• an occurrence in which a large number of fish (such as salmon) swim up a river to return to the place where they were hatched and produce young
1. a salmon run
• running away from someone in order to avoid being captured
1. an escaped convict on the run
2. He is on the run from the cops.
• running away because you are about to be defeated
1. The army had the enemy on the run.
• while going somewhere or while doing something else
1. We ate lunch on the run.
• continuously busy
1. He's always on the run.
• the freedom to go anywhere or do anything you want in (a place)
1. With his parents gone, he had the run of the house.