run (runs plural & 3rd person present) (running present participle) (ran past tense )
The form run is used in the present tense and is also the past participle of the verb.
1 verb When you run, you move more quickly than when you walk, for example because you are in a hurry to get somewhere, or for exercise.
I excused myself and ran back to the telephone... V adv/prep
He ran the last block to the White House with two cases of gear... V n/amount
Antonia ran to meet them. V
Run is also a noun., n-count usu sing
After a six-mile run, Jackie returns home for a substantial breakfast.
2 verb When someone runs in a race, they run in competition with other people.
...when I was running in the New York Marathon... V
Phyllis Smith ran a controlled race to qualify in 51.32 sec. V n
3 verb When a horse runs in a race or when its owner runs it, it competes in a race.
The owner insisted on Cool Ground running in the Gold Cup... V
If we have a wet spell, Cecil could also run Armiger in the Derby. V n
4 verb If you say that something long, such as a road, runs in a particular direction, you are describing its course or position. You can also say that something runs the length or width of something else.
...the sun-dappled trail which ran through the beech woods. V prep/adv
5 verb If you run a wire or tube somewhere, you fix it or pull it from, to, or across a particular place.
Our host ran a long extension cord out from the house and set up a screen and a projector. V n prep/adv
6 verb If you run your hand or an object through something, you move your hand or the object through it.
He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair... V n prep
7 verb If you run something through a machine, process, or series of tests, you make it go through the machine, process, or tests.
They have gathered the best statistics they can find and run them through their own computers. V n through n
8 verb If someone runsfor office in an election, they take part as a candidate.
(=stand)
It was only last February that he announced he would run for president... V for n
It is no easy job to run against John Glenn, Ohio's Democratic senator... V against n
Women are running in nearly all the contested seats in Los Angeles. V
9 n-sing A run for office is an attempt to be elected to office.
(mainly AM) N for n
He was already preparing his run for the presidency.
in BRIT, usually use bid
10 verb If you run something such as a business or an activity, you are in charge of it or you organize it.
His stepfather ran a prosperous paint business... V n
Is this any way to run a country?... V n
...a well-run, profitable organisation. V-ed
11 verb If you talk about how a system, an organization, or someone's life is running, you are saying how well it is operating or progressing.
usu cont
Officials in charge of the camps say the system is now running extremely smoothly. V adv
...the staff who have kept the bank running. V
12 verb If you run an experiment, computer program, or other process, or start it running, you start it and let it continue.
He ran a lot of tests and it turned out I had an infection called mycoplasma... V n
You can check your program one command at a time while it's running. V
13 verb When you run a cassette or video tape or when it runs, it moves through the machine as the machine operates.
(=play)
He pushed the play button again and ran the tape... V n
The tape had run to the end but recorded nothing. V
14 verb When a machine is running or when you are running it, it is switched on and is working.
usu cont
We told him to wait out front with the engine running. V
...with everybody running their appliances all at the same time. V n
15 verb A machine or equipment that runson or off a particular source of energy functions using that source of energy.
Black cabs run on diesel... V on/off n
16 verb If you run a car or a piece of equipment, you have it and use it.
(mainly BRIT)
I ran a 1960 Rover 100 from 1977 until 1983. V n
17 verb When you say that vehicles such as trains and buses run from one place to another, you mean they regularly travel along that route.
A shuttle bus runs frequently between the Inn and the Country Club. V prep
...a government which can't make the trains run on time. V
18 verb If you run someone somewhere in a car, you drive them there.
INFORMAL
(=drive)
Could you run me up to Baltimore? V n prep/adv
19 verb If you run over or down to a place that is quite near, you drive there.
INFORMAL
(=drive)
I'll run over to Short Mountain and check on Mrs Adams. V adv
20 n-count A run is a journey somewhere.
...doing the morning school run.
21 verb If a liquid runs in a particular direction, it flows in that direction.
(=flow)
Tears were running down her cheeks... V prep/adv
Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. V adj
22 verb If you run water, or if you run a tap or a bath, you cause water to flow from a tap.
She went to the sink and ran water into her empty glass... V n
23 verb If a tap or a bath is running, water is coming out of a tap.
only cont
You must have left a tap running in the bathroom... V
24 verb If your nose is running, liquid is flowing out of it, usually because you have a cold.
usu cont
Timothy was crying, mostly from exhaustion, and his nose was running. V
25 verb If a surface is runningwith a liquid, that liquid is flowing down it.
usu cont
After an hour he realised he was completely running with sweat... V with n
26 verb If the dye in some cloth or the ink on some paper runs, it comes off or spreads when the cloth or paper gets wet.
The ink had run on the wet paper. V
27 verb If a feeling runsthrough your body or a thought runsthrough your mind, you experience it or think it quickly.
(=go)
She felt a surge of excitement run through her... V through n
28 verb If a feeling or noise runsthrough a group of people, it spreads among them.
(=go)
A buzz of excitement ran through the crowd. V through n
29 verb If a theme or feature runsthrough something such as someone's actions or writing, it is present in all of it.
Another thread running through this series is the role of doctors in the treatment of the mentally ill... V through n
There was something of this mood running throughout the Congress's deliberations. V throughout n
30 verb When newspapers or magazines run a particular item or story or if it runs, it is published or printed.
The newspaper ran a series of four editorials entitled `The Choice of Our Lives.' V n
...an editorial that ran this weekend entitled `Mr. Cuomo Backs Out.' V
31 verb If an amount is running at a particular level, it is at that level.
(=stand)
Today's RPI figure shows inflation running at 10.9 per cent... V at n
32 verb If a play, event, or legal contract runs for a particular period of time, it lasts for that period of time.
It pleased critics but ran for only three years in the West End... V for amount
The contract was to run from 1992 to 2020... V prep
I predict it will run and run. V
33 verb If someone or something is running late, they have taken more time than had been planned. If they are running to time or ahead of time, they have taken the time planned or less than the time planned.
usu cont
Tell her I'll call her back later, I'm running late again... V adv/prep
34 verb If you are running a temperature or a fever, you have a high temperature because you are ill.
The little girl is running a fever and she needs help. V n
35 n-count A run of a play or television programme is the period of time during which performances are given or programmes are shown.
with supp
The show will transfer to the West End on October 9, after a month's run in Birmingham...
36 n-sing A runof successes or failures is a series of successes or failures.
usu N of n
The England skipper is haunted by a run of low scores...
37 n-count A run of a product is the amount that a company or factory decides to produce at one time.
usu supp N
Wayne plans to increase the print run to 1,000...
38 n-count In cricket or baseball, a run is a score of one, which is made by players running between marked places on the field after hitting the ball.
At 20 he became the youngest player to score 2,000 runs in a season.
39 n-sing If someone gives you the run of a place, they give you permission to go where you like in it and use it as you wish.
the N of n
He had the run of the house and the pool.
40 n-sing If there is a run on something, a lot of people want to buy it or get it at the same time.
N on n
A run on sterling has killed off hopes of a rate cut...
41 n-count A ski run or bobsleigh run is a course or route that has been designed for skiing or for riding in a bobsleigh.
usu n N
42
→
running
→
dummy run
→
test run
→
trial run
43 If something happens against the run of play or against the run of events, it is different from what is generally happening in a game or situation.
(BRIT)
against the run of sth phrase
The decisive goal arrived against the run of play...
44 If you run someone close, run them a close second, or run a close second, you almost beat them in a race or competition.
run someone close/run someone a close second/run a close second phrase V inflects
The Under-21 team has defeated Wales and Scotland this season, and ran England very close...
45 If a river or well runs dry, it no longer has any water in it. If an oil well runs dry, it no longer produces any oil.
run dry phrase V inflects
(=dry up)
Streams had run dry for the first time in memory.
46 If a source of information or money runs dry, no more information or money can be obtained from it.
run dry phrase V inflects
(=dry up)
Three days into production, the kitty had run dry.
47 If a characteristic runs in someone's family, it often occurs in members of that family, in different generations.
run in sb's family phrase V inflects
The insanity which ran in his family haunted him.
48 If you make a run for it or if you run for it, you run away in order to escape from someone or something.
make a run for it/run for it phrase V inflects
A helicopter hovered overhead as one of the gang made a run for it...
49 If people's feelings are running high, they are very angry, concerned, or excited.
run high phrase V inflects
Feelings there have been running high in the wake of last week's killing.
50 If you talk about what will happen in the long run, you are saying what you think will happen over a long period of time in the future. If you talk about what will happen in the short run, you are saying what you think will happen in the near future.
in the long run/in the short run phrase PHR with cl, PHR with v
Sometimes expensive drugs or other treatments can be economical in the long run..., In fact, things could get worse in the short run.
51 If you say that someone would run a mile if faced with something, you mean that they are very frightened of it and would try to avoid it.
run a mile phrase V inflects
Yasmin admits she would run a mile if Mark asked her out.
52 If you say that someone could give someone else a run for their money, you mean you think they are almost as good as the other person.
give sb a run for their money phrase V inflects
...a youngster who even now could give Meryl Streep a run for her money.
53 If someone is on the run, they are trying to escape or hide from someone such as the police or an enemy.
on the run phrase v-link PHR, PHR after v
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
54 If someone is on the run, they are being severely defeated in a contest or competition.
on the run phrase usu v-link PHR
His opponents believe he is definitely on the run...
55 If you say that a person or group is running scared, you mean that they are frightened of what someone might do to them or what might happen.
be running scared phrase V inflects
The administration is running scared.
56 If you are running shortof something or running lowon something, you do not have much of it left. If a supply of something is running short or running low, there is not much of it left.
run short/run low phrase V inflects
Government forces are running short of ammunition and fuel..., We are running low on drinking water...
57
→
to run amok
→
amok
→
to make your blood run cold
→
blood
→
to run counter to something
→
counter
→
to run its course
→
course
→
to run deep
→
deep
→
to run an errand
→
errand
→
to run the gamut of something
→
gamut
→
to run the gauntlet
→
gauntlet
→
to run rings around someone
→
ring
→
to run riot
→
riot
→
to run a risk
→
risk
→
to run to seed
→
seed
→
to run wild
→
wild run across phrasal verb If you run across someone or something, you meet them or find them unexpectedly.
(=come across)
We ran across some old friends in the village. V P n run after phrasal verb If you are running after someone, you are trying to start a relationship with them, usually a sexual relationship., (disapproval)
By the time she was fifteen Maria was already running after men twice her age. V P n run around phrasal verb If you run around, you go to a lot of places and do a lot of things, often in a rushed or disorganized way.
No one noticed we had been running around emptying bins and cleaning up... V P
I spend all day running around after the family... V P after/with n
I will not have you running around the countryside without my authority. V P n (not pron) run away
1 phrasal verb If you run away from a place, you leave it because you are unhappy there.
I ran away from home when I was sixteen... V P from n
After his beating Colin ran away and hasn't been heard of since... V P
Three years ago I ran away to Mexico to live with a circus. V P to n
2 phrasal verb If you run away with someone, you secretly go away with them in order to live with them or marry them.
(=run off)
She ran away with a man called McTavish last year... V P with n
He and I were always planning to run away together. pl-n V P together
3 phrasal verb If you run awayfrom something unpleasant or new, you try to avoid dealing with it or thinking about it.
They run away from the problem, hoping it will disappear of its own accord... V P from n
You can't run away for ever. V P
4
→
runaway run away with phrasal verb If you let your imagination or your emotions run away with you, you fail to control them and cannot think sensibly.
You're letting your imagination run away with you... V P P pron run by phrasal verb If you run something by someone, you tell them about it or mention it, to see if they think it is a good idea, or can understand it.
Run that by me again. V n P n run down
1 phrasal verb If you run people or things down, you criticize them strongly.
He last night denounced the British `genius for running ourselves down'. V n P
...that chap who was running down state schools. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If people run down an industry or an organization, they deliberately reduce its size or the amount of work that it does.
(mainly BRIT)
The government is cynically running down Sweden's welfare system... V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If someone runs down an amount of something, they reduce it or allow it to decrease.
(mainly BRIT)
But the survey also revealed firms were running down stocks instead of making new products... V P n (not pron)
4 phrasal verb If a vehicle or its driver runs someone down, the vehicle hits them and injures them.
(=knock down, run over)
Lozano claimed that motorcycle driver Clement Lloyd was trying to run him down. V n P
5 phrasal verb If a machine or device runs down, it gradually loses power or works more slowly.
The batteries are running down. V P
1 phrasal verb If you run into problems or difficulties, you unexpectedly begin to experience them.
They agreed to sell last year after they ran into financial problems... V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you run into someone, you meet them unexpectedly.
(=meet, bump into)
He ran into Krettner in the corridor a few minutes later. V P n
3 phrasal verb If a vehicle runs into something, it accidentally hits it.
The driver failed to negotiate a bend and ran into a tree. V P n
4 phrasal verb You use run into when indicating that the cost or amount of something is very great.
He said companies should face punitive civil penalties running into millions of pounds. V P amount run off
1 phrasal verb If you run off with someone, you secretly go away with them in order to live with them or marry them.
(=run away)
The last thing I'm going to do is run off with somebody's husband... V P with n
We could run off together, but neither of us wants to live the rest of our lives abroad. pl-n V P together
2 phrasal verb If you run off copies of a piece of writing, you produce them using a machine.
If you want to run off a copy sometime today, you're welcome to. V P n (not pron) run out
1 phrasal verb If you run outof something, you have no more of it left.
They have run out of ideas... V P of n
We had lots before but now we've run out. V P
→
to run out of steam
→
steam
2 phrasal verb If something runs out, it becomes used up so that there is no more left.
Conditions are getting worse and supplies are running out... V P
3 phrasal verb When a legal document runs out, it stops being valid.
(=expire)
When the lease ran out the family moved to Campigny. V P run over phrasal verb If a vehicle or its driver runs a person or animal over, it knocks them down or drives over them.
(=knock down, run down)
You can always run him over and make it look like an accident... V n P
He ran over a six-year-old child as he was driving back from a party. V P n run past phrasal verb To run something past someone means the same as to run it by them.
Before agreeing, he ran the idea past Johnson. V n P n run through
1 phrasal verb If you run through a list of items, you read or mention all the items quickly.
(=go through)
I ran through the options with him. V P n
2 phrasal verb If you run through a performance or a series of actions, you practise it.
(=go through)
Doug stood still while I ran through the handover procedure. V P n
1 phrasal verb If you run to someone, you go to them for help or to tell them something.
If you were at a party and somebody was getting high, you didn't go running to a cop. V P n
2 phrasal verb If something runs to a particular amount or size, it is that amount or size.
The finished manuscript ran to the best part of fifty double-sided pages. V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you cannot run to a particular item, you cannot afford to buy it or pay for it.
(mainly BRIT) with brd-neg
(=afford)
If you can't run to champagne, buy sparkling wine. V P n run up
1 phrasal verb If someone runs up bills or debts, they acquire them by buying a lot of things or borrowing money.
He ran up a £1,400 bill at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel... V P n (not pron)
2 →
run-up run up against phrasal verb If you run up against problems, you suddenly begin to experience them.
(=encounter) I ran up against the problem of getting taken seriously long before I became a writer... V P P n
close-run
If you describe something such as a race or contest as a close-run thing, you mean that it was only won by a very small amount. adj ADJ n
In such a close-run race as this election, the campaign becomes all important.
dry run (dry runs plural )If you have a dry run, you practise something to make sure that you are ready to do it properly. n-count oft N for n
The competition is planned as a dry run for the World Cup finals.
dummy run (dummy runs plural )A dummy run is a trial or test procedure which is carried out in order to see if a plan or process works properly.
(BRIT) n-count
(=test run)
Before we started we did a dummy run.
fun run (fun runs plural )A fun run is a long distance race which anyone can take part in. Fun runs are often held to raise money for charity.
(BRIT, AUSTRALIAN) n-count
hit-and-run
1 adj A hit-and-run accident is an accident in which the driver of a vehicle hits someone and then drives away without stopping.
ADJ n
...a hit-and-run driver in a stolen car.
2 adj A hit-and-run attack on an enemy position relies on surprise and speed for its success.
ADJ n
The rebels appear to be making hit-and-run guerrilla style attacks on military targets.
print run (print runs plural )In publishing, a print runof something such as a book or a newspaper is the number of copies of it that are printed and published at one time. n-count usu with supp, supp N, N of n
It was launched last year in paperback with an initial print run of 7,000 copies.
rat run (rat runs plural )A rat run is a small street which drivers use during busy times in order to avoid heavy traffic on the main roads.
(BRIT)
INFORMAL n-count
re-run (re-runs plural & 3rd person present) (re-running present participle) (re-ran past tense & past participle )
The spelling rerun is also used. The form re-run is used in the present tense and is also the past participle of the verb. The noun is pronounced ri:r^n. The verb is pronounced ri:r^n.
1 n-sing If you say that something is are-run of a particular event or experience, you mean that what happens now is very similar to what happened in the past.
N of n
(=repeat)
It was the world's second worst air disaster, a horrific re-run of the runway collision in 1977...
2 verb If someone re-runs a process or event, they do it or organize it again.
Edit the input text and re-run the software... V n
Re-run is also a noun., n-count
In the re-run he failed to make the final at all, finishing sixth.
3 verb If an election is re-run, it is organized again, for example because the correct procedures were not followed or because no candidate got a large enough majority.
usu passive
The ballot was re-run on Mr Todd's insistence after accusations of malpractice. be V-ed
Re-run is also a noun., n-count oft N of n
The opposition has demanded a re-run of parliamentary elections held yesterday.
4 verb To re-run a film, play, or television programme means to show it or put it on again.
They re-ran the World Cup final on a big screen. V n
5 n-count A re-run is a film, play, or television programme that is shown or put on again.
usu with supp, oft N of n
(=repeat)
Viewers will have to make do with tired re-runs and second-rate movies...
run-down , rundown
The adjective is pronounced r^n daʊn. The noun is pronounced r^n daʊn.
1 adj If someone is run-down, they are tired or slightly ill.
INFORMAL usu v-link ADJ
...times when you are feeling tired and run-down.
2 adj A run-down building or area is in very poor condition.
usu ADJ n
...one of the most run-down areas in Scotland., ...a run-down block of flats.
3 adj A run-down place of business is not as active as it used to be or does not have many customers.
usu ADJ n
...a run-down slate quarry...
4 n-sing When therun-down of an industry or organization takes place, its size or the amount of work that it does is reduced.
(mainly BRIT) N of n
...the impetus behind the rundown of the coal industry.
5 n-sing If you give someone a run-downof a group of things or a run-downon something, you give them details about it.
INFORMAL usu N of/on n
Here's a rundown of the options...
run-in (run-ins plural )A run-in is an argument or quarrel with someone.
INFORMAL n-count oft N with n
(=row)
I had a monumental run-in with him a couple of years ago.
run-off (run-offs plural ), runoff A run-off is an extra vote or contest which is held in order to decide the winner of an election or competition, because no-one has yet clearly won. n-count usu sing, oft N between pl-n
There will be a run-off between these two candidates on December 9th...
run-of-the-mill , run of the mill
A run-of-the-mill person or thing is very ordinary, with no special or interesting features. adj usu ADJ n (disapproval)
I was just a very average run-of-the-mill kind of student...
run-through (run-throughs plural )A run-through for a show or event is a practice for it. n-count
(=rehearsal)
Charles and Eddie are getting ready for their final run-through before the evening's recording.
run time (run times plural )Run time is the time during which a computer program is running. (COMPUTING) n-count
run-up (run-ups plural )
1 n-sing Therun-upto an event is the period of time just before it.
(mainly BRIT) usu the N to n
The company believes the products will sell well in the run-up to Christmas.
2 n-count In sport, a run-up is the run made by a player or athlete, for example before throwing a ball or a javelin, or before jumping.
When I began to compete again, I was struggling with my run-up.
test run (test runs plural )If you give a machine or system a test run, you try it out to see if it will work properly when it is actually in use. n-count
(=trial run)
trial run (trial runs plural )A trial run is a first attempt at doing something to make sure you can do it properly. n-count
