English Dictionary

Definition of “run”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of run

run (rʌn Pronunciation for run ) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms:  runs, running, ran, run
  1. intr
    1. (of a two-legged creature) to move on foot at a rapid pace so that both feet are off the ground together for part of each stride
    2. (of a four-legged creature) to move at a rapid gait; gallop or canter
  2. tr to pass over (a distance, route, etc) in running ⇒ to run a mile, run a race
  3. intr to run in or finish a race as specified, esp in a particular position ⇒ John is running third
  4. tr to perform or accomplish by or as if by running ⇒ to run an errand
  5. intr to flee; run away ⇒ they took to their heels and ran
  6. tr to bring into a specified state or condition by running ⇒ to run oneself to a standstill
  7. tr to track down or hunt (an animal) ⇒ to run a fox to earth
  8. intr to move about freely and without restraint ⇒ the children are running in the garden
  9. intr usually foll by to to go or have recourse, as for aid, assistance, etc ⇒ he's always running to his mother when he's in trouble
  10. tr to set (animals) loose on (a field or tract of land) so as to graze freely
  11. intr; often foll by over, round or up to make a short trip or brief informal visit ⇒ I'll run over to your house this afternoon
  12. to move quickly and easily on wheels by rolling, or in any of certain other ways ⇒ a ball running along the ground, a sledge running over snow
  13. to move or cause to move with a specified result or in a specified manner ⇒ to run a ship aground, to run into a tree
  14. often foll by over to move or pass or cause to move or pass quickly ⇒ to run a vacuum cleaner over the carpet, to run one's eyes over a page
  15. tr; foll by into, out of, through, etc to force, thrust, or drive ⇒ she ran a needle into her finger
  16. tr to drive or maintain and operate (a vehicle)
  17. tr to give a lift to (someone) in a vehicle; transport ⇒ he ran her to the railway station
  18. to ply or cause to ply between places on a route ⇒ the bus runs from Piccadilly to Golders Green
  19. to operate or be operated; function or cause to function ⇒ the engine is running smoothly
  20. tr to perform or carry out ⇒ to run tests
  21. tr to be in charge of; manage ⇒ to run a company
  22. to extend or continue or cause to extend or continue in a particular direction, for a particular duration or distance, etc ⇒ the road runs north, the play ran for two years, the months ran into years
  23. intr (law)
    1. to have legal force or effect ⇒ the lease runs for two more years
    2. to accompany; be an integral part of or adjunct to ⇒ an easement runs with the land
  24. tr to be subjected to, be affected by, or incur ⇒ to run a risk, run a temperature
  25. intr often foll by to to be characterized (by); tend or incline ⇒ her taste runs to extravagant hats, to run to fat
  26. intr to recur persistently or be inherent ⇒ red hair runs in my family
  27. to cause or allow (liquids) to flow or (of liquids) to flow, esp in a manner specified ⇒ water ran from the broken pipe, the well has run dry
  28. intr to melt and flow ⇒ the wax grew hot and began to run
  29. (metallurgy)
    1. to melt or fuse
    2. tr to mould or cast (molten metal) ⇒ to run lead into ingots
  30. intr (of waves, tides, rivers, etc) to rise high, surge, or be at a specified height ⇒ a high sea was running that night
  31. intr to be diffused ⇒ the colours in my dress ran when I washed it
  32. intr (of stitches) to unravel or come undone or (of a garment) to have stitches unravel or come undone ⇒ if you pull that thread the whole seam will run
  33. to sew (an article) with continuous stitches
  34. intr (of growing vines, creepers, etc) to trail, spread, or climb ⇒ ivy running over a cottage wall
  35. intr to spread or circulate quickly ⇒ a rumour ran through the town
  36. intr to be stated or reported ⇒ his story runs as follows
  37. to publish or print or be published or printed in a newspaper, magazine, etc ⇒ they ran his story in the next issue
  38. often foll by for (mainly US & Canadian) to be a candidate or present as a candidate for political or other office ⇒ Anderson is running for president
  39. tr to get past or through; evade ⇒ to run a blockade
  40. tr to deal in (arms, etc), esp by importing illegally ⇒ he runs guns for the rebels
  41. (nautical) to sail (a vessel, esp a sailing vessel) or (of such a vessel) to be sailed with the wind coming from astern
  42. intr (of fish)
    1. to migrate upstream from the sea, esp in order to spawn
    2. to swim rapidly in any area of water, esp during migration
  43. tr (cricket) to score (a run or number of runs) by hitting the ball and running between the wickets
  44. tr (billiards, snooker) to make (a number of successful shots) in sequence
  45. tr (golf) to hit (the ball) so that it rolls along the ground
  46. tr (bridge) to cash (all one's winning cards in a long suit) successively

  47. See run a bath

  48. See run close

  49. See run for it

  50. See be run off one's feet

noun

  1. an act, instance, or period of running
  2. a gait, pace, or motion faster than a walk ⇒ she went off at a run
  3. a distance covered by running or a period of running ⇒ a run of ten miles
  4. an act, instance, or period of travelling in a vehicle, esp for pleasure ⇒ to go for a run in the car
  5. free and unrestricted access ⇒ we had the run of the house and garden for the whole summer
    1. a period of time during which a machine, computer, etc, operates
    2. the amount of work performed in such a period
  7. a continuous or sustained period ⇒ a run of good luck
  8. a continuous sequence of performances ⇒ the play had a good run
  9. (cards) a sequence of winning cards in one suit, usually more than five ⇒ a run of spades
  10. tendency or trend ⇒ the run of the market
  11. type, class, or category ⇒ the usual run of graduates
  12. usually foll by on a continuous and urgent demand ⇒ a run on butter, a run on the dollar
  13. a series of unravelled stitches, esp in stockings or tights; ladder
  14. the characteristic pattern or direction of something ⇒ the run of the grain on a piece of wood
    1. a continuous vein or seam of ore, coal, etc
    2. the direction in which it lies
    1. a period during which water or other liquid flows
    2. the amount of such a flow
  17. a pipe, channel, etc, through which water or other liquid flows
  18. (US) a small stream
  19. a steeply inclined pathway or course, esp a snow-covered one used for skiing and bobsleigh racing See also green run, blue run, red run, black run
  20. an enclosure for domestic fowls or other animals, in which they have free movement ⇒ a chicken run
  21. (esp in Australia and New Zealand) a tract of land for grazing livestock
  22. a track or area frequented by animals ⇒ a deer run, a rabbit run
  23. a group of animals of the same species moving together
  24. the migration of fish upstream in order to spawn
  25. (nautical)
    1. the tack of a sailing vessel in which the wind comes from astern
    2. part of the hull of a vessel near the stern where it curves upwards and inwards
  26. (military)
    1. a mission in a warplane
    2. short for bombing run
  27. the movement of an aircraft along the ground during takeoff or landing
  28. (music) a rapid scalelike passage of notes
  29. (cricket) a score of one, normally achieved by both batsmen running from one end of the wicket to the other after one of them has hit the ball Compare extra (sense 6), boundary (sense 2c)
  30. (baseball) an instance of a batter touching all four bases safely, thereby scoring
  31. (golf) the distance that a ball rolls after hitting the ground

  32. See a run for one's money

  33. See in the long run

  34. See in the short run

  35. See on the run

  36. See the runs

See also

runabout, run across, run after, run along, run around, run away, run down, run in, run into, run off, run on, run out, run over, run through, run to, run up, run with

Word Origin

Old English runnen, past participle of ( ge) rinnan; related to Old Frisian, Old Norse rinna, Old Saxon, Gothic, Old High German rinnan

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= race, speed, rush, dash, hurry, career, barrel (along), sprint, scramble, bolt, dart, gallop, hare, jog, scud, hasten, scurry, stampede, scamper, leg it, lope, hie, hotfoot,
= flee, escape, take off, depart, bolt, clear out, beat it, leg it, make off, abscond, decamp, take flight, do a runner, scarper, slope off, cut and run, make a run for it, fly the coop, beat a retreat, show a clean pair of heels, skedaddle, take a powder, take it on the lam, take to your heels,
= take part, be in, compete, participate, enter
= continue, go, stretch, last, reach, lie, range, extend, proceed,
= compete, stand, contend, be a candidate, put yourself up for, take part, challenge, re-offer
= manage, lead, direct, be in charge of, own, head, control, boss, operate, handle, conduct, look after, carry on, regulate, take care of, administer, oversee, supervise, mastermind, coordinate, superintend
= go, work, operate, perform, function, be in business, be in action, tick over
= perform, do, carry out, execute
= work, go, operate, function
= drive, own, keep, maintain, possess
= operate, go, travel, shuttle
= give a lift to, drive, carry, transport, convey, bear, manoeuvre, propel
= pass, go, move, roll, slide, glide, skim
= flow, pour, stream, cascade, go, move, issue, proceed, leak, spill, discharge, gush, spout, course
= spread, mix, bleed, be diffused, lose colour
= circulate, spread, creep, go round
= publish, carry, feature, display, print
= be staged, be on, be presented, be produced, be put on, be performed, be mounted
= be valid, be in force, be legally binding
= melt, dissolve, liquefy, go soft, turn to liquid
= unravel, tear, ladder, come apart, come undone
= smuggle, deal in, traffic in, bootleg, ship, sneak
= chase, drive, hunt, hound
= race, rush, dash, sprint, trot, gallop, jog, spurt
= ride, drive, trip, lift, journey, spin, outing, excursion, jaunt, joy ride, awayday
= round, route, journey, circuit, course
= sequence, period, stretch, spell, course, season, round, series, chain, cycle, string, passage, streak
= free use, unrestricted access to, a free hand in, unrestricted use of
= type, sort, kind, class, variety, category, order
= tear, rip, ladder, snag
= enclosure, pen, coop
= direction, way, course, current, movement, progress, flow, path, trend, motion, passage, stream, tendency, drift, tide, tenor
= slope, track, piste
= sudden demand for, pressure for, clamour for, rush for

Quotations including 'run'

  • "He who fights and runs awayMay live to fight another day" Oliver Goldsmith

Translations for 'run'

  • British English: runPronunciation for run A run is a journey you make by running.After a six-mile run, she returns home for breakfast.rʌn NOUN
  • Arabic: عَدْوPronunciation for عَدْو
  • Brazilian Portuguese: corridaPronunciation for corrida
  • Chinese: 跑Pronunciation for 跑
  • Croatian: trčanjePronunciation for trčanje
  • Czech: běhPronunciation for běh
  • Danish: løbPronunciation for løb
  • Dutch: hardlopenPronunciation for hardlopen
  • European Spanish: carreraPronunciation for carreracorrer
  • Finnish: juoksuPronunciation for juoksu
  • French: coursePronunciation for course
  • German: LaufPronunciation for Lauf Läufe
  • Greek: τρέξιμοPronunciation for τρέξιμο
  • Italian: corsaPronunciation for corsa
  • Japanese: 走ることPronunciation for 走ること
  • Korean: 뛰기Pronunciation for 뛰기
  • Norwegian: løpPronunciation for løp
  • Polish: biegPronunciation for biegwyścig
  • Portuguese: corridaPronunciation for corrida
  • Romanian: fugă fugi
  • Russian: бегPronunciation for бег
  • Spanish: carreraPronunciation for carrerarecorrido
  • Swedish: springturPronunciation for springtur
  • Thai: การวิ่งPronunciation for การวิ่ง
  • Turkish: koşuPronunciation for koşu
  • Ukrainian: пробіг
  • Vietnamese: sự chạyPronunciation for sự chạy
  • British English: runPronunciation for run You say that something long, such as a road, runs in a particular direction when you are describing its course or position.The path runs through the woods.rʌn VERBfollow a particular course
  • Arabic: يَرْكُضُPronunciation for يَرْكُضُ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: dirigirPronunciation for dirigir
  • Chinese: 跑Pronunciation for 跑
  • Croatian: ićiPronunciation for ići
  • Czech: véstPronunciation for véstcesta
  • Danish: kørePronunciation for køre
  • Dutch: lopen doorPronunciation for lopen door
  • European Spanish: correrPronunciation for correr
  • Finnish: juostaPronunciation for juosta
  • French: allerPronunciation for aller
  • German: laufenPronunciation for laufen
  • Greek: περνάωPronunciation for περνάω
  • Italian: dirigerePronunciation for dirigere
  • Japanese: 走るPronunciation for 走る
  • Korean: 이어지다Pronunciation for 이어지다
  • Norwegian: løpePronunciation for løpe
  • Polish: biecPronunciation for biec biegać
  • Portuguese: dirigirPronunciation for dirigir
  • Romanian: a trece
  • Russian: тянутьсяPronunciation for тянутьсядорога тянется на север
  • Spanish: hacer funcionarPronunciation for hacer funcionar
  • Swedish: springaPronunciation for springa
  • Thai: ตัดผ่านPronunciation for ตัดผ่าน
  • Turkish: içinden geçmekPronunciation for içinden geçmek
  • Ukrainian: проходити
  • Vietnamese: chạy theo đườngPronunciation for chạy theo đường
  • British English: runPronunciation for run When you run, you move very quickly on your legs.It's very dangerous to run across the road.rʌn VERBmove quickly
  • Arabic: يَجْريPronunciation for يَجْري
  • Brazilian Portuguese: correrPronunciation for correr
  • Chinese: 跑Pronunciation for 跑
  • Croatian: trčatiPronunciation for trčati
  • Czech: běhatPronunciation for běhat
  • Danish: løbePronunciation for løbe
  • Dutch: rennenPronunciation for rennen
  • European Spanish: correrPronunciation for correr
  • Finnish: juostaPronunciation for juosta
  • French: courirPronunciation for courir
  • German: laufenPronunciation for laufen
  • Greek: τρέχωPronunciation for τρέχω
  • Italian: correrePronunciation for correre
  • Japanese: 走るPronunciation for 走る
  • Korean: 달리다Pronunciation for 달리다
  • Norwegian: løpePronunciation for løpe
  • Polish: biegaćPronunciation for biegać
  • Portuguese: correrPronunciation for correr
  • Romanian: a alerga
  • Russian: бегатьPronunciation for бегать
  • Spanish: correrPronunciation for correr
  • Swedish: springaPronunciation for springa
  • Thai: วิ่ง, วิ่งหนีPronunciation for วิ่ง, วิ่งหนี
  • Turkish: koşturmakPronunciation for koşturmak
  • Ukrainian: бігати
  • Vietnamese: chạyPronunciation for chạy

Example Sentences Including 'run'

But for a chance discovery, goodness knows how long it could have run.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Edinburgh's Ross Rennie skied the fastest second run to finish in third.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
He did not want to admit to Lord Terbolt that she had run away.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
He is also likely to be fiercely critical of a proposed amnesty for former paramilitaries on the run.
Irish Times (2002)
In the long run , this discovery pointed the way to precise, predictable dosages of pure drugs.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
The recent run of mild winters is likely to lead to generations of stoats that stay brown all year.
Country Life (2004)
There were two years and five months of this to run , he said.
Irish Times (2002)
Voices filtered up to him, as someone entered the hall at a run.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
We'll have to knock them down and run stumps through them, to try to keep them pinned.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)

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