run

1 of 3

verb

ˈrən 

ran ˈran  also chiefly dialectal run; run; running

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go faster than a walk

specifically : to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step

b

of a horse : to move at a fast gallop

c

: flee, retreat, escape

dropped the gun and ran

d

: to utilize a running play on offense

—used of a football team

2

a

: to go without restraint : move freely about at will

let chickens run loose

b

: to keep company : consort

a ram running with ewes

ran with a wild crowd when he was young

c

: to sail before the wind in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled

d

: roam, rove

running about with no overcoat

3

a

: to go rapidly or hurriedly : hasten

run and fetch the doctor

b

: to go in urgency or distress : resort

runs to mother at every little difficulty

c

: to make a quick, easy, or casual trip or visit

ran over to borrow some sugar

4

a

: to contend in a race

b

: to enter into an election contest

will run for mayor

5

a

: to move on or as if on wheels : glide

file drawers running on ball bearings

b

: to roll forward rapidly or freely

c

: to pass or slide freely

a rope runs through the pulley

d

: to ravel lengthwise

stockings guaranteed not to run

6

: to sing or play a musical passage quickly

run up the scale

7

a

: to go back and forth : ply

the train runs between New York and Washington

b

of fish : to migrate or move in considerable numbers

especially : to move up or down a river to spawn

8

a

: turn, rotate

a swiftly running grindstone

b

: function, operate

the engine runs on gasoline

software that runs on her computer

9

a(1)

: to continue in force, operation, or production

the contract has two more years to run

the play ran for six months

(2)

: to have a specified duration, extent, or length

the manuscript runs nearly 500 pages

b

: to accompany as a valid obligation or right

a right-of-way that runs with the land

c

: to continue to accrue or become payable

interest on the loan runs from July 1

10

: to pass from one state to another

run into debt

11

a

: to flow rapidly or under pressure

b

: melt, fuse

c

: spread, dissolve

colors guaranteed not to run

d

: to discharge liquid (such as pus or serum)

a running sore

12

a

: to develop rapidly in some specific direction

especially : to throw out an elongated shoot of growth

b

: to tend to produce or develop a specified quality or feature

they run to big noses in that family

13

a

: to lie in or take a certain direction

the boundary line runs east

b

: to lie or extend in relation to something

c

: to go back : reach

d(1)

: to be in a certain form or expression

the letter runs as follows

(2)

: to be in a certain order of succession

14

a

: to occur persistently

musical talent runs in the family

b(1)

: to remain of a specified size, amount, character, or quality

profits were running high

(2)

: to have or maintain a relative position or condition (as in a race)

ran third

running late

c

: to exist or occur in a continuous range of variation

shades run from white to dark gray

15

a

: to spread or pass quickly from point to point

chills ran up her spine

b

: to be current : circulate

speculation ran rife

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause (an animal) to go rapidly : ride or drive fast

b

: to bring to a specified condition by or as if by running

ran himself to death

c

: to go in pursuit of : hunt, chase

dogs that run deer

d

: to follow the trail of backward : trace

ran the rumor to its source

e

: to enter, register, or enroll as a contestant in a race

f

: to put forward as a candidate for office

g

: to carry (the football) on a running play

2

a

: to drive (livestock) especially to a grazing place

b

: to provide pasturage for (livestock)

c

: to keep or maintain (livestock) on or as if on pasturage

3

a(1)

: to pass over or traverse with speed

(2)

: to run on or over in athletic competition

runs the bases well

run the floor

b

: to accomplish or perform by or as if by running

ran a great race

run errands

c

: to slip or go through or past

run a blockade

run a red light

d

: to travel on in a boat

run the rapids

4

a

: to cause to penetrate or enter : thrust

ran a splinter into her toe

b

: stitch

c

: to cause to pass : lead

run a wire in from the antenna

d

: to cause to collide

ran his head into a post

e

: smuggle

run guns

5

: to cause to pass lightly or quickly over, along, or into something

ran her eye down the list

6

a

: to cause or allow (a vehicle or a vessel) to go in a specified manner or direction

ran the car off the road

b

: operate

run a lathe

c

: to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct

run a factory

d

: to employ or supervise in espionage

run an agent

7

a

: to be full of or drenched with

streets ran blood

b

: contain, assay

8

a

: to cause to move or flow in a specified way or into a specified position

run cards into a file

b

: to cause to produce a flow (as of water)

run the faucet

also : to prepare by running a faucet

run a hot bath

9

a

: to melt and cast in a mold

run bullets

b

: treat, process, refine

run oil in a still

run a problem through a computer

10

: to make oneself liable to : incur

ran the risk of discovery

11

: to mark out : draw

run a contour line on a map

12

a

: to permit (charges) to accumulate before settling

run a tab at the bar

—often used with up

ran up a large phone bill

b

: cost sense 1

rooms that run $50 a night

13

a

: to produce by or as if by printing

—usually used with off

ran off 10,000 copies of the first edition

b

: to carry in a printed medium : print

every newspaper ran the story

14

a

: to make (a series of counts) without a miss

run 19 in an inning in billiards

b

: to lead winning cards of (a suit) successively

c

: to alter by addition

ran his record to six wins and four losses

15

: to make (a golf ball) roll forward after alighting

16

baseball : to eject (a player, coach, or manager) from a game

Ron Luciano ran Weaver early in game one of a doubleheader in 1975, and then ran him again during the lineup meeting prior to the start of game two.

—Jeff Burd

Using Run in the Past Tense: Usage Guide

The past tense run still survives in speech in southern England and in the speech especially of older people in some parts of the U.S. It was formerly used in literature, and was a standard variant in our dictionaries from 1828 until 1934. Grammarians have generally opposed it, and many people consider it nonstandard. Just about everybody uses ran in writing now.

run

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: an act or the action of running : continued rapid movement

b

: a quickened gallop

c

: a migration of fish (as up or down a river) especially to spawn

also : such fish in the process of migration

d

: a running race

a mile run

e

: a score made in baseball by a runner reaching home plate safely

f

: strength or ability to run

g

: a gain of a usually specified distance made on a running play in football

scored on a 25-yard run

also : a running play

h

: a sustained usually aggressive effort (as to win or obtain something)

making a run at the championship

2

a

chiefly Midland US : creek sense 1

b

: something that flows in the course of an operation or during a particular time

the first run of sap in sugar maples

3

a

: the stern of the underwater body of a ship from where it begins to curve or slope upward and inward

b

: the direction in which a vein of ore lies

c

: a direction of secondary or minor cleavage : grain

the run of a mass of granite

d

: a horizontal distance (such as that covered by a flight of steps)

e

: general tendency or direction

4

: a continuous period or series especially of things of identical or similar sort

a run of bad luck

: such as

a

: a rapid passage up or down a scale in vocal or instrumental music

b

: a number of rapid small dance steps executed in even tempo

c

: the act of making successively a number of successful shots or strokes

also : the score thus made

a run of 20 in billiards

d

: an unbroken course of performances or showings

a long run on Broadway

e

: a set of consecutive measurements, readings, or observations

f

: persistent and heavy demands from depositors, creditors, or customers

a run on a bank

g

: sequence sense 2b

5

: the quantity of work turned out in a continuous operation

a press run of 10,000 copies

6

: the usual or normal kind, character, type, or group

the average run of students

7

a

: the distance covered in a period of continuous traveling or sailing

b

: a course or trip especially if mapped out and traveled with regularity

c

: a news reporter's regular territory : beat

d

: freedom of movement in or access to a place or area

has the run of the house

8

a

: the period during which a machine or plant is in continuous operation

b

: the use of machinery for a single set of processing procedures

a computer run

9

a

: a way, track, or path frequented by animals

b

: an enclosure for domestic animals where they may feed or exercise

c Australia

(1)

: a large area of land used for grazing

a sheep run

(2)

: ranch, station

run-holder

d

: an inclined passageway

10

a

: an inclined course (as for skiing or bobsledding)

b

: a support (such as a track, pipe, or trough) on which something runs

11

a

: a ravel in a knitted fabric (as in hosiery) caused by the breaking of stitches

b

: a paint defect caused by excessive flow

12

runs plural in form but singular or plural in construction : diarrhea

—used with the

runless

ˈrən-ləs 

adjective

run

3 of 3

adjective

1

a

: being in a melted state

run butter

b

: made from molten material : cast in a mold

run metal

2

of fish : having made a migration or spawning run

a fresh run salmon

3

: exhausted or winded from running

Phrases

run across

: to meet with or discover by chance

run a fever or run a temperature

: to have a fever

run after

1

: pursue, chase

especially : to seek the company of

2

: to take up with : follow

run after new theories

run against

1

: to meet suddenly or unexpectedly

2

: to work or take effect unfavorably to : disfavor, oppose

run a tight ship

: to have strict and exacting standards in controlling or managing something (such as a business)

run by or run past

: to present to (as for evaluation)

ran some ideas by her

run circles around or run rings around

: to show marked superiority over : defeat decisively or overwhelmingly

run dry

1

: to use up an available supply

2

: to become exhausted or spent

his inspiration had run dry

run interference

: to provide assistance by or as if by clearing a path through obstructions

ran interference for me with the press

run into

1

a

: to change or transform into : become

b

: to merge with

c

: to mount up to

their yearly income often runs into six figures

2

a

: to collide with

b

: to meet by chance

ran into an old classmate the other day

run low on

: to approach running out of

running low on options

run one's mouth

: to talk excessively or foolishly

run riot

1

: to act wildly or without restraint

2

: to occur in profusion

daffodils running riot

run short

: to become insufficient

run short of

: to use up : run low on

run the numbers

: to perform calculations

run the table

1

: to sink all remaining shots without missing in pool

2

: to win all remaining contests

run to

: to mount up to

the book runs to 500 pages

run upon

: to run across : meet with

run with

1

: to use or exploit fully : make the most of

took the idea and ran with it

2

: to publicize widely

the press ran with the quote

on the run

1

: in haste : without pausing

ate lunch on the run

2

: in retreat : in flight (as from the law)

an escaped convict on the run

run for one's money

: a serious challenge to one's supremacy

is expected to give the incumbent a good run for his money

Synonyms

Verb

• dash
• gallop
• jog
• scamper
• sprint
• trip
• trot

Noun

• current
• direction
• drift
• leaning
• tendency
• tide
• trend
• wind

Examples of run in a Sentence

Verb

How fast can you run?

He runs faster than anyone else on the team.

She ran up the stairs to get her jacket.

We ran for the train—but missed it.

I heard her scream and ran to help.

She ran to me for help.

The dog ran away from me.

The dog ran toward me.

When I called the dog, he came running.

Don't expect me to come running every time you want something. I'm not your servant.

Noun

He goes for a six-mile run every evening.

She took the dogs out for a run.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

One of the affected cables, known as C-Lion—a vital 730-mile link between Finland and Central Europe—runs alongside other critical infrastructure, including gas pipelines and power lines. —Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024

Evans, a software engineer, ran an acrimonious campaign filled with insults and attacks. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024

Noun

Following a post-bankruptcy restructuring, an 11-day Just For Laughs festival is in the works for a July 16 to 27, 2025 run. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024

Lazy is giving the side-hustling girl boss with a personal brand a run for her money. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ronnen, alteration of rinnen, intransitive verb (from Old English iernan, rinnan & Old Norse rinna) & of rennen, transitive verb, from Old Norse renna; akin to Old High German rinnan, intransitive verb, "to run," Sanskrit riṇāti "he causes to flow," and probably to Latin rivus "stream"

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing run

• at a run
• average/normal/general/usual run of
• be run/rushed off one's feet
• break into a run
• cast/run one's eye over
• cut and run
• draw/run a bath
• dry run
• dummy run
• earned run
• earned run average
• eat up/run out/kill the clock
• end run
• fall/run afoul of
• first-run
• give (someone) a run for his/her/your/their money
• go/run through someone's mind
• hit-and-run
• home run
• in the long run
• in the short run
• long run
• make a chill/shiver run up/down someone's spine
• make an unsuccessful run for
• make a run at
• make a run for
• make a run for it
• make someone's blood run cold
• milk run
• on the run
• over the long run
• over the short run
• rat run
• run about/round with
• run along
• run amok
• run-and-gun
• run-and-shoot
• run a risk
• run around with
• run a story
• run at
• run away
• run away with
• run batted in
• run behind schedule
• run counter to
• run deep
• run down
• run for it
• run for office
• run for one's life
• run for one's money
• run high
• run in
• run into the buffers
• run its course
• run late
• run/live one's own life
• run low
• run off
• run off with
• run-of-mine
• run-of-paper
• run-of-the-mill
• run-of-the-mine
• run on
• run one's course
• run one's eye down
• run one's own life
• run-on sentence
• run on the bank
• run out
• run out of
• run out of gas
• run out of patience
• run out of time
• run out on
• run out the clock
• run over
• run rampant
• run roughshod
• run (someone) ragged
• run the gamut
• run the risk of
• run the whole show
• run thin
• run through
• run to seed
• run up
• run up against
• run/walk into a buzz saw
• run wild
• school run
• sea-run
• short run
• ski run
• solo home run
• speed run
• still waters run deep
• take a run at
• test run
• the long run
• the run of
• the short run
• trial run
• walk before one can run
• well-run

Kids Definition

run

1 of 2 verb

ˈrən 

ran ˈran  ; run; running

1

a

: to go at a pace faster than a walk

b

: to take to flight : flee

made the enemy run

2

: to move or allow to move freely about

chickens running loose

running around without a coat

3

a

: to go or cause to go rapidly or hurriedly

run and get the doctor

b

: to go in pursuit of : chase

had run the woodchuck into its hole

4

: to do something by or as if by running

run errands

5

a

: to take part in a race

b

: to be or cause to be a candidate in an election

ran for mayor

6

a

: to move on or as if on wheels

b

: to ravel lengthwise

stockings guaranteed not to run

7

a

: to go back and forth

the bus runs every hour

b

: to migrate or move in schools

especially : to go up a river to spawn

shad are running in the river

8

a

: operate sense 1

I can run that machine

left the engine running

b

: to cause to be treated or operated on : process

ran my program on the computer

9

: to continue in force or operation

the contract has two years to run

the play ran for six months

10

: to pass into a specified condition

run into debt

11

a

: to move as a liquid : flow

b

: to dissolve and spread out

colors guaranteed not to run

c

: to give off liquid

my nose is running

12

: to tend to develop a specified quality or feature

one of those people who run to fat

13

a

: extend sense 4

the boundary line runs east

b

: to be in a certain form or order

14

a

: to occur again and again

a song running through my head

a condition that runs in their family

b

: to exist or occur in a continuous range of variation

15

: to be in circulation

speculation ran wild

16

: trace entry 2 sense 2a

ran the rumor to its source

17

: to slip through or past

run a blockade

18

: to pass over, across, or through

19

a

: to cause or allow to go

ran the rascals out of town

ran the car off the road

b

: to be in charge of : manage

run a factory

20

: to make oneself liable to : incur

ran the risk of discovery

run

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act or the action of running

b

: a fast gallop

c

: an annual migration of fish up a river especially to spawn

also : a group of fish migrating especially to spawn

d

: a running race

the 1500-meter run

e

: a score made in baseball by a base runner reaching home plate

2

a

chiefly Midland : creek sense 2

b

: something that flows especially during a certain time

the first run of maple sap

3

a

: the horizontal distance from one point to another

b

: general tendency or direction

4

: a continuous series especially of similar things

a long run of cloudy days

5

: sudden heavy demands from depositors, creditors, or customers

a run on a bank

6

: the quantity of work turned out in a continuous operation

also : a period of continuous operation

7

: the usual or normal kind

average run of students

8

a

: the distance covered in a period of continuous traveling

b

: regular course or trip

the bus makes four runs daily

c

: freedom of movement

has the run of the house

9

a

: a way, track, or path often traveled by animals

b

: an enclosure for animals where they may feed or exercise

10

a

: an inclined course (as for skiing)

b

: a track or guide on which something runs

11

: a ravel in a knitted fabric

12

plural : diarrhea

had a bad case of the runs

Medical Definition

run

intransitive verb

ˈrən 

ran ˈran  ; run; running

: to discharge fluid (as pus or serum)

a running sore

Legal Definition

run

intransitive verb

ran; run; running

1

a

: to be or continue to be in operation or effect

b

: to proceed toward expiration or effectiveness

statute of limitations began to run when she received notice of the injury

compare toll

2

: to continue to accrue or become payable in an amount increasing with the passing of time

interest running from a particular date