run Hear it!

run Definition

run (run)

intransitive verb ran or Dialectalrun, run, run·ning

  1. to go by moving the legs rapidly, faster than in walking, and (in a two-legged animal) in such a way that for an instant both feet are off the ground
    1. to go rapidly; move swiftly
    2. to resort (to) for aid always running to the police
  2. to associate or consort (with)
  3. to go, move, grow, etc. easily and freely, without hindrance or restraint
  4. to go away rapidly; flee
  5. to make a quick trip (up to, down to, over to, etc. a specified place) for a brief stay
    1. to take part in a contest or race
    2. ☆ to be a candidate in an election
  6. to finish a contest or race in the specified position to run last
  7. to swim in migration, as upstream or inshore for spawning, etc.: said of fish
  8. to go, as on a schedule; ply between two points a bus that runs between Chicago and Detroit
  9. to go or pass lightly and rapidly his eyes ran over the page
  10. to be current; circulate a rumor running through the town
  11. to climb or creep: said of plants a vine running over the wall
  12. to move continuously or incessantly: often used figuratively his tongue ran on and on
  13. to ravel lengthwise in a knitted fabric
  14. to function or operate with or as with parts that revolve, slide, etc. a machine that is running
  15. to recur or return to the mind
  16. to flow a running stream
  17. to melt and flow the wax ran
    1. to spread when put on a surface, as a liquid
    2. to spread over or be diffused through cloth, etc. when moistened, as colors
    3. to be subject to such spreading of color, as fabric
  18. to be wet or covered with a flow eyes running with tears
  19. to give passage to a fluid; specif.,
    1. to discharge pus, mucus, etc.
    2. to leak, as a faucet
  20. to elapse the days ran into weeks
    1. to appear in print, as in a newspaper
    2. to appear or be presented continuously or in a continuing series a play that ran for a year
    1. to continue in effect or force a law running for twenty years
    2. to continue to occur; recur talent runs in the family
  21. to be characterized by having, producing, using, etc.: with to their taste runs to exotic foods
    1. to extend in or as in a continuous line a fence running through the woods
    2. to include so as to show variety: with from and to a repertoire running from tragedy to comedy
  22. to pass into a specified condition, situation, etc. to run into trouble
  23. to sail or float (aground, etc.): said of a ship
  24. to be written, expressed, played, etc. in a specified way the adage runs like this
  25. to be or continue at a specified size, price, amount, etc. apples running four to the pound
  26. Naut. to sail with the wind coming from astern

Etymology: altered (with vowel prob. infl. by pp.) < ME rinnen, rennen < ON & OE: ON rinna, to flow, run, renna, to cause to run (< Gmc *rannjan); OE rinnan, iornan: both < Gmc *renwo < IE base *er-, to set in motion, excite > raise, L origo, origin

transitive verb

  1. to run along or follow (a specified course or route)
  2. to travel over; cover by running, driving, etc. horses ran the range
  3. to do or perform by or as by running to run a race
  4. to subject oneself to (a risk); incur
    1. to get past or escape by going through to run a blockade
    2. to go past or through without making a required stop to run a stop sign or a red light
  5. to pursue or hunt (game, etc.)
  6. to compete with in or as in a race; vie with
    1. to enter (a horse, etc.) in a race
    2. ☆ to put up or support as a candidate for election
    1. to make run, move, operate, etc.
    2. to cause to go between points, as on a schedule
    3. to cause (a motor or engine) to idle for a while
    4. to make (a stocking) run
  7. to bring, lead, or force into a specified condition, situation, etc. by or as by running to run oneself into debt
    1. to carry or convey, as in a ship or vehicle; transport
    2. to carry (taxable or outlawed goods) in or out illegally; smuggle
  8. to drive, force, or thrust (an object) into, through, or against (something)
  9. to make go, move, pass, flow, etc., esp. rapidly, in a specified way, direction, place, etc. to run water into a glass
    1. ☆ to be in charge of; manage to run a household
    2. ☆ to keep, feed, or graze (livestock)
    3. to perform the steps of (an experiment, test, etc.)
    4. to cause to undergo a test, procedure, process, etc.
  10. to cost (an amount) boots that run $20
  11. to mark, draw, or trace (lines, as on a map)
  12. to extend, pass, or trace in a specified way or direction to run a story back to its source
  13. to undergo or be affected by (a fever, etc.)
  14. to flow with, discharge, or pour forth gutters running blood
  15. to melt, fuse, or smelt (ore)
  16. to cast or mold, as from molten metal; found
  17. ☆ to print; esp., to publish (an advertisement, story, etc.) in a newspaper or magazine
  18. Billiards to complete successfully (a specified number of strokes, shots, etc.) in uninterrupted sequence
  19. Bridge to lead consecutively the remaining cards of (an established suit)
  20. Comput. to cause (a program, software, etc.) to operate or start operating
  21. Golf to cause (a ball) to roll, esp. on a green

noun

  1. an act or period of running or moving rapidly
    1. a race for runners
    2. a running pace; rapid gait
    3. capacity for running
  2. the distance covered or time spent in running
  3. a trip; journey; esp.,
    1. a single, customary, or regular trip, as of a train, ship, or plane
    2. a quick trip, esp. for a brief stay
    3. route (sense )
    1. movement onward, progression, or trend the run of events
    2. a continuous course or period of a specified condition, action, etc. a run of good luck
  4. direction or course, as of the grain of wood, a vein of ore, etc.
  5. a continuous course of performances, showings, etc. a play that had a run of a year
  6. a series of continued, sudden, or urgent requests or demands, as by customers for certain goods, or by bank depositors for their funds
  7. a period of being in public demand or favor
  8. a continuous series or sequence, as three or more cards in unbroken order in one suit
  9. a continuous extent of something
  10. a flow or rush of water, etc., as of the tide
  11. a small, swift stream, as a brook or rivulet
    1. a period during which some fluid flows readily
    2. the amount of flow
    3. Slang diarrhea: with the
    1. a period of operation of a machine
    2. the output during this period
    1. a kind, sort, or class, as of goods
    2. the ordinary, usual, or average kind or type
  12. something in, on, or along which something else runs; specif.,
    1. an inclined pathway or course a ski run
    2. a track, channel, trough, pipe, etc.
    3. an enclosed area in which domestic animals or fowl can move about freely or feed a chicken run
    4. in Australia, a large grazing area or ranch
    5. a well-defined trail or path made and used by animals a buffalo run
  13. freedom to use all the facilities or move freely in any part (of a place) to have the run of an estate
    1. a number of animals in motion together
    2. a large number of fish migrating together, as upstream or inshore for spawning
    3. such migration of fish
  14. ☆ a ravel lengthwise in something knitted, as in hosiery
  15. Baseball a point scored whenever a base runner successfully touches all four bases in the proper order without being out
  16. Billiards an uninterrupted sequence of successful strokes, shots, etc.
  17. Cricket a scoring point, made by a successful running of both batsmen from one wicket to the other
  18. Mil. the approach to the target made by an airplane in bombing, strafing, etc.
  19. Comput. one execution of a program
  20. Music a rapid succession of tones, as a roulade
  21. Naut. the after part of a ship's bottom, from where it starts to curve up and in toward the stern

adjective

  1. melted; made liquid
  2. poured or molded while in a melted state run metal
  3. drained or extracted, as honey
  4. having migrated and spawned: said of fish

run Idioms

a run for one's money

  1. powerful competition
  2. some satisfaction for what one has expended, as in betting on a near winner in a race

in the long run

in the final outcome; ultimately

in the short run

in the beginning; at first; initially

on the run

  1. running
  2. hurrying from place to place or task to task
  3. running away; in retreat

run across

to encounter by chance

run after

  1. to pursue or follow
  2. Informal to seek the company or companionship of

run along

to leave or depart

run around

Informal to be sexually unfaithful; cheat

run away

  1. to flee
  2. to desert one's home or family
  3. to escape and run loose, as a horse

run away with

  1. to depart and take with one; esp., to steal
  2. to carry out of control his enthusiasm ran away with him
    1. to outdo greatly all other contestants or performers in
    2. to get (a prize, honors, etc.) in this way

run back

to carry (a football) toward the opponent's goal, as after receiving a kickoff

run down

  1. to cease to run, or stop operating, as a mechanical device, through lack of power
  2. to run, ride, or drive against so as to knock down
  3. to pursue and capture or kill
  4. to search out the source of
  5. to speak of slightingly or injuriously; disparage
  6. to lessen or lower in worth, quality, etc.; make or become run-down
  7. to read through rapidly
  8. Baseball to catch and tag (a base runner trapped between two bases)

run for it

to run in order to escape or avoid something

run in

  1. to include or insert, as something additional
  2. Informal to make a brief stop or visit at a place
  3. Slang to take into legal custody; arrest
  4. Printing to make continuous without a break or paragraph

run into

  1. to encounter by chance
  2. to run, ride, or drive against so as to hit; collide with
  3. to add up to (a large sum of money)

run off

  1. ☆ to print, typewrite, make copies of, etc.
  2. to cause to be run, performed, played, etc.
  3. to decide the winner of (a race, etc.) by a runoff
  4. to drive (animals, trespassers, etc.) off or away
  5. to flow off; drain
  6. run away

run on

    1. to continue or be continued
    2. Printing to continue without a break or new paragraph
  1. to add (something) at the end
  2. to talk continuously

run out

  1. to come to an end; expire or become used up, exhausted, etc.
  2. to force to leave; drive out

run out of

to use up a supply of (something)

run out on

Informal to abandon or desert

run out the clock

Basketball, Football to maintain control of the ball in the closing minutes of a game

run over

  1. to ride or drive over as with an automobile
  2. to overflow
  3. to go beyond a limit
  4. to examine, rehearse, etc. rapidly or casually

run scared

Slang to base one's actions upon the possibility or likelihood of failure

run through

  1. to use up, spend, etc. quickly or recklessly
  2. to pierce
  3. run over (sense )

run up

  1. to raise, rise, make, or build rapidly
  2. to let (bills, debts, etc.) accumulate
  3. to sew with a rapid succession of stitches
run Synonyms

run

n.

  1. The act of running

    sprint, dash, jog, race, pace, bound, trot, gallop, canter, lope, spring, dart, rush, flight, escape, break, charge, swoop, scamper, tear, whisk, scuttle, scud, flow, fall, drop.

  2. A series

    continuity, succession, sequence, spell; see period 1, series.

  3. In baseball, a score

    point, tally, count; see home run, score 1.

  4. The average

    par, norm, run of the mill; see average.

  5. A course

    way, route, field; see route 1, track 1.

in the long run

in the final outcome, finally, eventually; see ultimately.

on the run
  1. busy, in a hurry, running;

  2. retreating, routed, escaping, on the lam*;

run Synonyms

run

v.

  1. To move, usually rapidly

    flow, stream, pour, cut along, chase along, fall, roll, course, tumble, drop, leap, spin, whirl, whiz, scud, sail.

  2. To go swiftly by physical effort

    rush, hurry, race, dash, dart, bolt, shoot, tear, bound, scurry, skitter, scramble, scoot, travel, run off, run away, flee, escape, put on a burst of speed, go on the double, hasten, hasten off, light out, make tracks, dart ahead, gallop, canter, lope, jog, spring, trot, single-foot, amble, pace, speed, sprint, spurt, swoop, whisk, scamper, scuttle; see also race 1.

  3. To function

    move, work, go; see operate 2.

  4. To cause to function

    control, drive, govern, administer; see command 2, manage 1.

  5. To extend

    encompass, cover, spread; see reach 1, surround 1, 2.

  6. To continue

    last, persevere, go on; see continue 1.

  7. To read

    be worded, be written, appear; see mean 1.

  8. To compete

    oppose, contest, contend with; see compete, race 2.

run Usage Examples

Object

  • workshop: A workshop run by UKOLN in conjunction with UK Web Focus.
  • program: Other events We also run a program of events for members with at least one meeting in the UK every two months.
  • course: Return to Top 3.5 - Can you run a course at my institution?

Subject

  • volunteer: They may be run by volunteers, often including parents.

Preposition: as

  • daemon: Apache HTTP Server Version 1.3 Starting Apache Invoking Apache The httpd program is usually run as a daemon which executes continuously, handling requests.

Adjective modifier

  • long: Regime change in Washington would do more good to the world in the long run.

Preposition: into

  • trouble: If you run into trouble you can save the state of play onto cassette and resume the game later.

Adjective complement

  • contrary: There is a sense in which this runs somewhat contrary to the spirit of the LAA.
  • north-south: The thin boundary wall of the monastery runs north-south toward the right-hand edge of the photograph.
  • wild: Or was it because she was roaming the streets, running wild?

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: He got off the couch and ran around, throwing himself forward and announced himself to be fully cured.
  • out: I hope they don't run out of space.
  • through: Guys and Dolls runs through to this Saturday, 26 November 2005, and includes a matinee on Saturday.
  • over: Keep an eye on your time, and do not run over your limit.
  • off: Alam was the last one and he did not run off into the bushes.
  • down: In a new sure way to can run down in ambassadors such.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • down: The lines running down the center of Cable Street are the tramway.

Preposition: in

  • tandem: Basic molecular and genetic research will run in tandem with human clinical studies of mental health, intellectual function and learning disorders.

Noun used with modifier

  • family: David Wilson's Trailers are a privately owned family run business established in 1984.

Preposition: by

  • volunteer: They may be run by volunteers, often including parents.
run Quotes

We gotta get out while we're young 'Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run.

—Springsteen, Bruce

   And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as thestarsforeverand ever.Butthou,ODaniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

—Bible (Old Testament)

He gives direction to the town, To cry it up, or run it down.

—Swift,Jonathan

I bowl so slow that if after I have delivered the ball and don't like the lookof it,I can run after it and bring it back.

—Barrie, SirJ(ames) M(atthew)

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lshall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Ist es schwer und kann es ein AuÞenseiter begreifen,dass man eine Geschichte von ihrem Anfang in sich erlebt, vom fernen Punkt bis zu der heranfahrenden Lokomotive aus Stahl, Kohl und Dampf, sie aber auchjetzt noch nicht verl a« sst, sondern von ihr gejagt wird und aus eigenem Schwung vor ihr l a« uft, wohin sie nur st o« Þt und wohin man sie lockt. It is so difficult and can an outsider understand that you experience a story within yourself from its beginning, fromthe distant point up to theapproaching locomotive of steel, coal and steam, and you don't abandon it even now, but want to be pursued by it and have time for it, therefore are pursued by it and of your own volition run before it wherever it may thrust and wherever you may lure it.

—Kafka, Franz

   He can run, but he can't hide.

—Louis,Joe pseudonym of  Joseph Louis Barrow

   Know ye not thatthey whichrun ina racerun all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Wherefore seeing we alsoare compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Still as they run they look behind, They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy.

—Gray,Thomas

What Makes Sammy Run?

—Schulberg, Budd Wilson

I would have run to him, only I was a coward in the presence of such a moböwould have embraced him, only, he being an Englishman, I did not know how he would receive me; so I did what cowardice and false pride suggested was the best thingöwalked deliberately to him, took off my hat, and said: 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?' 'Yes,'said he, with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly. I replace my hat on my head, and he puts on his cap, and we both grasp hands, and I then sayaloud: 'I thank God,Doctor, I have been permitted to see you.' He answered,'I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you.'

—Stanley, Sir Henry Morton originally John Rowlands

If Ihad to decidetoday,Iwould run.But Imaycometomy senses.

—Gramm, Phil (William Philip)