run

runverb

The picture behind most senses of run is movement that keeps going: a person on foot, water, a machine, a bus service, a road across the land, or a business that continues.

1. move fastmove quickly on foot, faster than when you walk, so that for a moment both feet are off the ground

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The dog ran across the yard to meet us. V + adv/prep
   • I had to run to catch the bus.
   • Kim can run faster than anyone else in the class.
   • Don't run on the wet floor, or you'll fall.

   Collocations

   verb + adverb run fast, run quickly, run hard, run home, run upstairs

   verb + preposition run to, run toward, run across, run after someone, run through

   Synonyms sprint (run as fast as you can for a short distance); jog (run slowly and steadily for exercise); dash (run a short way in a hurry); bleed; control

   Compare walk (when you walk, one foot is always on the ground)

   1. amove fast on foot as a sport, either in a race or as regular exercise

      transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

      • Mari runs every morning before work.
      • Ana ran her first marathon last spring. V + obj
      • The two brothers ran against each other in the final.

      Collocations

      verb + noun run a race, run a marathon, run a mile, run five miles

      verb + preposition run in a race, run against someone

   For translators (sense 1)

   Grammar trap The direction goes in a phrase after the verb: run to the door, run across the street, run upstairs. The verb itself says only how the person moves, so a language whose verbs of motion include the direction (one verb for go in running) needs to split the idea in two.

2. hurry or escapego somewhere quickly, or leave a place quickly in order to get away from someone or something

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • Could you run to the store and get some bread? V + adv/prep
   • I'd love to stay and talk, but I have to run. (informal: leave in a hurry)
   • When the alarm went off, everyone ran for the exits.
   • You can't run from your problems forever. (escape)

   Collocations

   verb + preposition run from someone or something, run for the door, run to the store, run for cover

   phrase run errands, run and get something, I have to run, run for your life

   Synonyms hurry; rush; flee (formal, for escaping)

   Compare run away (the usual phrasal verb for leaving in order to escape)

   1. adrive past a red light or a stop sign without stopping

      transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] American

      • He got a ticket for running a red light. V + obj
      • Never run a stop sign, even when the road looks empty.

      Collocations

      verb + noun run a red light, run a stop sign

   For translators (sense 2)

   Meaning across languages In everyday American speech, run to the store or run over to a friend's house means make a quick trip, often by car; the person need not be on foot at all. Many languages keep the on-foot word separate from the quick-trip word.

3. managebe in charge of a business, a group, or an activity, and make the decisions about how it works

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Her parents run a small restaurant near the station. V + obj
   • Who runs this place?
   • The club is run by a group of volunteers. (passive)
   • Omar has been running the sales team for two years.

   Collocations

   verb + noun run a business, run a company, run a store, run a hotel, run a course, run a campaign

   verb + adverb run something well, run something badly, run something efficiently

   phrase a well-run company, a family-run business, state-run, be run by someone

   Synonyms manage; operate (more formal; for businesses, systems, and machines)

   Compare own (you can run a business that you do not own)

   For translators (sense 3)

   Meaning across languages This everyday sense often needs a more formal verb in other languages, such as manage, direct, or lead. It covers businesses, schools, events, courses, websites, and households alike. Note the common passive with by: the hotel is run by a family.

4. work or operatebe working or switched on, or make a machine, an engine, or a computer program work

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • Is the engine still running?
   • Leave the computer running so the update can finish.
   • The heater runs on gas. V + prep + obj (with on)
   • Run the program again and see if the error goes away. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition run on gas, run on batteries, run on electricity, run on a computer

   verb + adverb run smoothly, run quietly, run continuously

   verb + noun run a program, run a machine, run an engine, run the washing machine

   phrase leave something running, keep something running, get something running

   Synonyms operate; function (formal; for the use without an object); work (for the use without an object)

   1. ado a test, a check, or a search, especially using a machine or a computer

      transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

      • The doctor wants to run a few more tests. V + obj
      • I ran a search for the file but couldn't find it.
      • Let's run the numbers before we decide. (informal: do the calculations)

      Collocations

      verb + noun run a test, run a check, run a search, run an experiment, run the numbers

   2. buse a vehicle or a machine, paying for the fuel or the power it needs

      transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

      • The old freezer costs a lot to run.
      • They can't afford to run two cars. V + obj (mainly British for cars)

      Collocations

      phrase cost a lot to run, be cheap to run, be expensive to run

   For translators (sense 4)

   Grammar trap Both the machine and the person can be the subject: the engine runs; she runs the engine. Some languages need two different verbs, one meaning work and one meaning make something work. A program also runs on a computer or a system, with on.

5. buses and trains(of a bus, a train, or a plane) go along its route at regular times, or provide such a service

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] transport

   • Trains run every ten minutes during the day.
   • The last bus runs at midnight.
   • They're running extra buses because of the festival. V + obj
   • Does this line run on Sundays?

   Collocations

   phrase run every ten minutes, run on time, run late, run between two places, run all night

   Synonyms operate

6. of liquidflow somewhere in a stream, or make water flow from a tap

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj]

   • Tears ran down her cheeks. V + adv/prep
   • Someone left the water running in the bathroom.
   • My nose has been running all day. (of a cold)
   • I'll run you a hot bath. V + obj + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition run down something, run into the sea, run through the town

   phrase leave the water running, run a bath, run the water until it gets hot, your nose is running

   Synonyms flow

   Compare leak (water leaks when it escapes from where it should be); pour (pour is faster and heavier, and is also what a person does with a liquid)

   1. a(of color in cloth, paint, or makeup) spread when it gets wet

      intransitive [I]

      • Wash the red shirt separately, or the color will run.
      • The rain made the ink run.

      Collocations

      noun + verb the color runs, the dye runs, the ink runs, makeup runs

   For translators (sense 6)

   Meaning across languages Many languages use the flow word only for water and a different word for a nose or eyes that produce liquid; English uses run for both. A color that runs is a separate word again in many languages, closer to bleed or fade.

7. continue in timecontinue for a particular length of time, or until a particular time

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • The show ran for six months and then closed.
   • My contract runs until the end of the year.
   • The class runs from nine to eleven on Tuesdays.
   • The meeting ran an hour longer than planned. (with a length of time)

   Collocations

   verb + preposition run for two hours, run until the end of the month, run from May to July

   phrase run long, run over time, the show is still running

   Synonyms last; continue

   For translators (sense 7)

   Grammar trap Use for with a length of time and until or to with an end point: it runs for two hours, it runs until five, it runs from nine to five. Not during: a class does not run during two hours.

8. of a roadgo or stretch from one place to another in a particular direction

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The road runs along the river for several miles. V + adv/prep
   • A fence runs around the whole field.
   • The border runs through the middle of the lake.
   • The wires run under the floor and up the wall to the socket.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition run along, run through, run between, run parallel to, run from north to south

   Synonyms stretch; extend (formal); go

   1. aput a wire, a pipe, or a cable so that it goes along a particular path

      transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

      • We ran a cable from the house to the garage. V + obj + prep + obj
      • The electrician ran the new wires behind the wall.

      Collocations

      verb + noun run a cable, run a pipe, run a wire, run a line

   2. b(of a quality, a feeling, or an idea) be found all through a family, a group, or a piece of writing

      intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

      • Musical talent runs in Yuki's family. V + prep + obj
      • A feeling of hope runs through all her songs.
      • Curly hair runs in the family.

      Collocations

      phrase run in the family, run through something, run throughout something

   For translators (sense 8)

   Meaning across languages For roads, borders, and lines, many languages say go, pass, or stretch. For a quality in a family they say be inherited or be in the blood; for an idea in a book, pass through or fill.

9. move your handmove your hand, a finger, or a tool quickly and lightly along or over something

   transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • She ran her fingers through her hair. V + obj + prep + obj
   • He ran his hand along the smooth wood.
   • Ravi ran his eyes down the list of names. (with eyes: look quickly)
   • Run a comb through your hair before we leave.

   Collocations

   phrase run your fingers through something, run your hand over something, run your eye over something, run a comb through your hair

   Synonyms pass; slide

   For translators (sense 9)

   Meaning across languages Many languages say pass, slide, or move here: pass your hand over the wood, slide your fingers through your hair. The English verb adds the idea of a quick, light, unbroken movement.

10. becomebe or become in a particular state, for example low, dry, short, or late

    linking [L] verb + adjective [V + adj]

    • We're running low on milk. V + adj (with on)
    • The well ran dry during the summer. V + adj
    • Sorry, I'm running a little late. V + adj
    • We're running short of time, so let's move on. V + adj (with of)

    Collocations

    phrase run low on something, run short of something, run dry, run late, run cold

    Synonyms become (the general verb; run is used only with a small set of adjectives); get

    For translators (sense 10)

    Grammar trap Only a small set of adjectives follows run in this sense: low, short, dry, late, cold, wild, high, deep, and a few more. It is not a general word for become; use get or become with other adjectives.

11. in an electiontry to be elected to a political position

    intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] politics

    • She's running for mayor next year. V + prep + obj
    • He ran against a much more experienced candidate and lost.
    • Are you going to run again?
    • Sam decided to run for a seat on the city council.

    Collocations

    verb + preposition run for president, run for office, run for mayor, run against someone, run in an election

    phrase run for a second term, run for re-election

    Synonyms stand (the usual British verb: stand for election)

    Compare campaign (campaign is what a candidate does after deciding to run)

    For translators (sense 11)

    Cultural background American English usually says run for office; British English has traditionally preferred stand for election, though run is now common in both. The position follows for: run for mayor, run for the council.

12. at a levelbe at a particular level or amount, or cost a particular amount of money

    transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

    • Prices are running about ten percent higher than last year.
    • The repair bill ran to more than a thousand dollars. V + prep + obj
    • He's running a fever, so he should stay in bed. V + obj (with a temperature or fever)
    • Interest rates are running at their highest level in years. V + prep + obj

    Collocations

    verb + preposition run at a level, run to an amount, run above something, run below something

    verb + noun run a fever, run a temperature

    Synonyms stand (for a level: unemployment stands at five percent)

13. print or broadcastprint or show a news story or an advertisement in a newspaper or on television, or be printed or shown in this way

    transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] media

    • The paper ran the story on its front page. V + obj
    • They're running the ad on television all week.
    • The interview runs in tomorrow's edition.

    Collocations

    verb + noun run a story, run an ad, run an article, run a piece, run a headline

    Synonyms publish; print; broadcast

    For translators (sense 13)

    Meaning across languages Other languages normally say publish, print, or broadcast; run is the everyday word of newspapers and television in English, and works both with an object (run a story) and without one (the story ran).

14. drive someonetake someone or something somewhere quickly, especially in a car

    transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + object + adverb [V + obj + adv] informal

    • I can run you to the station if you like. V + obj + prep + obj
    • Can you run these papers over to the office?
    • Lee ran me home after practice.

    Collocations

    phrase run someone home, run someone to the airport, run something over to someone

    Synonyms drive (the neutral verb; run suggests a short, quick trip); smuggle (for the illegal subsense)

    1. atake goods such as guns or drugs into a country illegally

       transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] crime

       • He was arrested for running guns across the border. V + obj
       • The gang had been running drugs into the city for years.

       Collocations

       verb + noun run guns, run drugs

    For translators (sense 14)

    Meaning across languages This informal sense usually means give someone a ride in a car on a short trip, or take something somewhere quickly. Languages without a light verb for this say drive or take by car.

See also run away; run out; run into; run over