to go at a speed faster than a walk, with only one foot on the ground at any time
said of a horse: to move at a fast gallop
to hasten or move quickly or erratically
to flee or escape
to hasten with a specified purpose
Run and fetch the doctor
to make a quick, easy, or casual trip or visit
I'm going to run up to town for the day
to compete in a race
to be a candidate in an election
to move in a certain way
a chair that runs on castors
to pass or slide freely or cursorily
A thought ran through my mind
to sing or play quickly
She ran up the scale
said of a boat: to sail before the wind as distinct from reaching or sailing close-hauled
said of a bus, train, or ferry: to go back and forth; to ply
The trains don't always run on time
said of fish: to ascend a river to spawn
said of a machine, engine, etc: to function or operate
said of an agreement, contract, etc: to continue in force
said of interest, a debt, etc: to continue to accumulate
to have a specified tendency; to pass to a specified state
to run to fat
Money ran low
to flow or course
running water
to become by flowing
The water ran cold
to reach a specified state by discharging liquid
The well ran dry
said of a tap, etc: to discharge liquid
to melt or turn to liquid
said of colours: to spread or dissolve when wet
said of a sore: to discharge pus or serum
to lie or extend in a specified position, direction, or relation to something
The road runs through a tunnel
to have a certain form or expression
The letter runs as follows
to occur persistently
A note of despair runs through the narrative
to reach a specified level
Inflation is running at 4 per cent
to play or be featured continuously, e.g. in a theatre or newspaper
(+ to)
to extend to (a specified size or amount)
The book runs to 500 pages
to be adequate for or be able to afford (a purchase, expense, etc)
My salary won't run to a car
to spread quickly from point to point
Chills ran up his spine
(+ on) to be concerned with or dwell on (something)
chiefly NAmer said of tights or stockings: to ladder
to carry on, manage, or control (a business, etc)
to operate (a machine, etc)
to put (a computer program) into operation
to subject (something) to a treatment or process
to make oneself liable to (a risk)
to own, maintain, and use (a motor vehicle)
to cause (a bus, train, or ferry) to ply or travel along a regular route
to convey (somebody) in a vehicle
to cause (something) to pass lightly, freely, or cursorily
She ran a comb through her hair
to cause (something) to lie or extend in a specified position or direction
You could run a wire in from the aerial
to cause (something) to pass forcibly into a certain state, often by accident
He ran his car off the road
to cause (water, etc) to move or flow in a specified way or into a specified position
to cause (a tap) to pour out liquid
to fill (a bath, etc) from a tap
to publish (a story) or show (a film, play; etc) to the public
to register or enrol (somebody) as a contestant or candidate
to cover (a distance) by running
She ran ten miles
to bring (oneself or somebody else) to a specified condition by or as if by running
He ran himself almost to death
to pursue or trace (something or somebody) to their source
to drive or chase (somebody) away
They ran him out of town
to slip through or past (a blockade, etc)
to smuggle (goods)
to drive (livestock), esp to a grazing place
to provide pasturage for (livestock)
to meet with or discover (somebody or something) by chance
to pursue or chase (somebody)
to seek the company of (somebody)
to be feverish
to collide with (something or somebody)
to encounter or meet (somebody or something)
to amount to (a specified figure)
to become insufficient
(+ of) to come near the end of (available supplies)
to squander (money)
to perform (something), esp for practice or instruction
to read through (something) quickly
to find (a person or an animal) after a protracted search