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