runrun1 /rʌn/ ●●● verb (past tense ran /ræn/ , past participle run, present participle running) 
1MOVE [intransitive] to move very quickly, moving your legs faster than when you walk: 
If we run, we can still catch the bus. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could. Billy ran over to the playground. Stephen came running into the house.THESAURUSsprint – to run as fast as you can for a short distance: I sprinted toward the end zone.dash/tear – to run very fast in a hurried way: He’s always dashing off somewhere.jog/go jogging – to run slowly and steadily for exercise, usually over a long distancerace – to go somewhere very quickly: I raced home from school.bolt – to suddenly run somewhere very fast, especially in order to escape or because you are frightened: At the sound of the bell, the kids bolted for the door.► see thesaurus at walk12BE IN CHARGE OF something [transitive] to control, organize, or operate a business, organization, etc.: Ann runs a restaurant in Atlanta. The hotel is well run/badly run.3IN A RACE [intransitive, transitive] to run in a race: I’m running in a marathon at the end of this month.4GO SOMEWHERE QUICKLY [intransitive] spoken to go somewhere quickly, either walking or in a car: I need to run out to my car – I left my books in it. He just ran to the store for some milk.5MACHINES [intransitive, transitive] if a machine runs, or if you run it, it is operating: The radio runs on/off batteries (=uses batteries to work). I forgot to run the dishwasher. Nate left the engine running. We should have the telescope up and running (=working) by the weekend.6COMPUTER [transitive] computers to start or use a computer program: You can run this software on any PC.7be running late to be doing things late: Sorry you had to wait – I’ve been running late all day.8ELECTION [intransitive] social studies, politics to try to be elected: It looks like he is going to run for president. Johnstone is running against Pershing.9NEWS/STORIES/ADVERTISEMENTS [intransitive, transitive] to print or broadcast a story, etc.: What does it cost to run an ad in the local paper? They ran the item on the 6 o’clock news.10run a check/test/experiment etc. to arrange for someone or something to be checked or tested: The doctors say they need to run a few tests first.11MONEY/NUMBERS [intransitive, transitive] to be at a particular level, length, amount, price, etc.: Unemployment is running at 5%. The cost of repairs could run to $500.12WATER/LIQUIDS [intransitive] to flow: Tears ran down her face. Who left the water running (=still flowing from a pipe)? My nose is running (=liquid is coming out).THESAURUSpour, flow, drip, leak, ooze► see thesaurus at pour13HAPPEN [intransitive] to happen in a particular way or for a particular time: The play ran for (=was performed for) two years. The teacher kept things running smoothly.14something LONG [intransitive, transitive] if something long such as a road or wire runs in a particular direction, that is its position, or that is where you put it: Developers want to run a road right through his farm. Run the cables under the carpet.15BUSES/TRAINS [intransitive] to take people from one place to another: The bus doesn’t run on Sunday. The trains should run on time (=arrive and leave at the correct time).16be running short of something also be running low on something to have very little of something left: I’m running low on money.17TOUCH [transitive] to touch something by moving your hand along its surface: She ran her fingers through her hair.18something runs in the family if something such as a quality, disease, or skill runs in the family, many people in that family have it19run drugs/guns to bring drugs or guns illegally into a country in order to sell them20COLOR [intransitive] if color or makeup runs, it spreads from one area of cloth or skin to another when it gets wet21HOLE IN CLOTHES [intransitive] if a hole in pantyhose runs, it gets longer in a straight line22be running a temperature/fever to have a body temperature that is higher than normal because you are sick23FEELING [intransitive] if thoughts or feelings run through you, you feel them in a very strong way: I felt a sharp pain run down my leg.[Origin: Old English rinnan]run across phrasal verb to meet or find someone or something by chance: I ran across some old love letters the other day.run after phrasal verb to chase someone or something: She started to leave, but Smith ran after her.run around phrasal verb to be very busy doing many small jobs: She’s been running around all day getting things ready for the wedding.run away phrasal verb1to leave a place in order to escape from someone or something: Kathy ran away from home at the age of 16.2to try to avoid an unpleasant situation: You can’t run away from your problems.run by phrasal verb to tell someone about something so that s/he can give you his/her opinion: Can you run that by me again (=repeat what you said because I did not understand)?run down phrasal verb1run somebody/something down to hit a person or animal with a car while you are driving, and kill or injure him, her, or it: A drunk driver ran down a 14-year-old girl.2run (something ↔) down to gradually lose power, or to make something do this: Don’t leave it switched on – you’ll run down the batteries.3run somebody/something ↔ down informal to criticize someone or something: Her boyfriend’s always running her down.run into phrasal verb1run into somebody informal to meet someone by chance: I ran into him in town.2run into somebody/something to hit someone or something with a car: He lost control and ran into another car.3run into trouble/problems/debt etc. to begin to have trouble, problems, etc.: She ran into trouble when she couldn’t pay the hospital bills.run off phrasal verb1to leave your husband or wife and live with or marry someone else: Her husband had run off, leaving her and the children.2run something ↔ off to quickly print copies of something: I’ll need to run off 100 copies of this.run off with phrasal verb1run off with somebody to go away with someone because you are having a sexual relationship with him/her and other people do not approve: Her husband ran off with an old girlfriend.2run off with something to steal something and leave on foot: A thief ran off with her cell phone.run out phrasal verb1to use all of something, so that there is none left: We’ve run out of sugar. I’m running out of ideas.2if something is running out, there will soon be none left: They need to make a deal, but time is running out.3to come to the end of a period of time when something is allowed to be done or used: My membership runs out in September.run over phrasal verb to hit someone or something with a car or other vehicle, and drive over him, her, or it: My dog was run over by a car.run through phrasal verb1to read, check, or practice something quickly: I’d like to run through the agenda with you before the meeting.2if a quality or feature runs through something, it exists in all parts of it: Death is a theme which runs through all the stories.run up phrasal verb to spend or borrow so much money that you have a lot to pay back: We ran up a huge phone bill.run up against phrasal verb to suddenly have to deal with a problem when you are trying to do something: The school board has run up against opposition to its proposals.
1MOVE [intransitive] to move very quickly, moving your legs faster than when you walk: If we run, we can still catch the bus. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could. Billy ran over to the playground. Stephen came running into the house.THESAURUSsprint – to run as fast as you can for a short distance: I sprinted toward the end zone.dash/tear – to run very fast in a hurried way: He’s always dashing off somewhere.jog/go jogging – to run slowly and steadily for exercise, usually over a long distancerace – to go somewhere very quickly: I raced home from school.bolt – to suddenly run somewhere very fast, especially in order to escape or because you are frightened: At the sound of the bell, the kids bolted for the door.► see thesaurus at walk12BE IN CHARGE OF something [transitive] to control, organize, or operate a business, organization, etc.: Ann runs a restaurant in Atlanta. The hotel is well run/badly run.3IN A RACE [intransitive, transitive] to run in a race: I’m running in a marathon at the end of this month.4GO SOMEWHERE QUICKLY [intransitive] spoken to go somewhere quickly, either walking or in a car: I need to run out to my car – I left my books in it. He just ran to the store for some milk.5MACHINES [intransitive, transitive] if a machine runs, or if you run it, it is operating: The radio runs on/off batteries (=uses batteries to work). I forgot to run the dishwasher. Nate left the engine running. We should have the telescope up and running (=working) by the weekend.6COMPUTER [transitive] computers to start or use a computer program: You can run this software on any PC.7be running late to be doing things late: Sorry you had to wait – I’ve been running late all day.8ELECTION [intransitive] social studies, politics to try to be elected: It looks like he is going to run for president. Johnstone is running against Pershing.9NEWS/STORIES/ADVERTISEMENTS [intransitive, transitive] to print or broadcast a story, etc.: What does it cost to run an ad in the local paper? They ran the item on the 6 o’clock news.10run a check/test/experiment etc. to arrange for someone or something to be checked or tested: The doctors say they need to run a few tests first.11MONEY/NUMBERS [intransitive, transitive] to be at a particular level, length, amount, price, etc.: Unemployment is running at 5%. The cost of repairs could run to $500.12WATER/LIQUIDS [intransitive] to flow: Tears ran down her face. Who left the water running (=still flowing from a pipe)? My nose is running (=liquid is coming out).THESAURUSpour, flow, drip, leak, ooze► see thesaurus at pour13HAPPEN [intransitive] to happen in a particular way or for a particular time: The play ran for (=was performed for) two years. The teacher kept things running smoothly.14something LONG [intransitive, transitive] if something long such as a road or wire runs in a particular direction, that is its position, or that is where you put it: Developers want to run a road right through his farm. Run the cables under the carpet.15BUSES/TRAINS [intransitive] to take people from one place to another: The bus doesn’t run on Sunday. The trains should run on time (=arrive and leave at the correct time).16be running short of something also be running low on something to have very little of something left: I’m running low on money.17TOUCH [transitive] to touch something by moving your hand along its surface: She ran her fingers through her hair.18something runs in the family if something such as a quality, disease, or skill runs in the family, many people in that family have it19run drugs/guns to bring drugs or guns illegally into a country in order to sell them20COLOR [intransitive] if color or makeup runs, it spreads from one area of cloth or skin to another when it gets wet21HOLE IN CLOTHES [intransitive] if a hole in pantyhose runs, it gets longer in a straight line22be running a temperature/fever to have a body temperature that is higher than normal because you are sick23FEELING [intransitive] if thoughts or feelings run through you, you feel them in a very strong way: I felt a sharp pain run down my leg.[Origin: Old English rinnan]run across phrasal verb to meet or find someone or something by chance: I ran across some old love letters the other day.run after phrasal verb to chase someone or something: She started to leave, but Smith ran after her.run around phrasal verb to be very busy doing many small jobs: She’s been running around all day getting things ready for the wedding.run away phrasal verb1to leave a place in order to escape from someone or something: Kathy ran away from home at the age of 16.2to try to avoid an unpleasant situation: You can’t run away from your problems.run by phrasal verb to tell someone about something so that s/he can give you his/her opinion: Can you run that by me again (=repeat what you said because I did not understand)?run down phrasal verb1run somebody/something down to hit a person or animal with a car while you are driving, and kill or injure him, her, or it: A drunk driver ran down a 14-year-old girl.2run (something ↔) down to gradually lose power, or to make something do this: Don’t leave it switched on – you’ll run down the batteries.3run somebody/something ↔ down informal to criticize someone or something: Her boyfriend’s always running her down.run into phrasal verb1run into somebody informal to meet someone by chance: I ran into him in town.2run into somebody/something to hit someone or something with a car: He lost control and ran into another car.3run into trouble/problems/debt etc. to begin to have trouble, problems, etc.: She ran into trouble when she couldn’t pay the hospital bills.run off phrasal verb1to leave your husband or wife and live with or marry someone else: Her husband had run off, leaving her and the children.2run something ↔ off to quickly print copies of something: I’ll need to run off 100 copies of this.run off with phrasal verb1run off with somebody to go away with someone because you are having a sexual relationship with him/her and other people do not approve: Her husband ran off with an old girlfriend.2run off with something to steal something and leave on foot: A thief ran off with her cell phone.run out phrasal verb1to use all of something, so that there is none left: We’ve run out of sugar. I’m running out of ideas.2if something is running out, there will soon be none left: They need to make a deal, but time is running out.3to come to the end of a period of time when something is allowed to be done or used: My membership runs out in September.run over phrasal verb to hit someone or something with a car or other vehicle, and drive over him, her, or it: My dog was run over by a car.run through phrasal verb1to read, check, or practice something quickly: I’d like to run through the agenda with you before the meeting.2if a quality or feature runs through something, it exists in all parts of it: Death is a theme which runs through all the stories.run up phrasal verb to spend or borrow so much money that you have a lot to pay back: We ran up a huge phone bill.run up against phrasal verb to suddenly have to deal with a problem when you are trying to do something: The school board has run up against opposition to its proposals.
