run

verb

/rʌn/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they run	/rʌn/ /rʌn/
he / she / it runs	/rʌnz/ /rʌnz/
past simple ran	/ræn/ /ræn/
past participle run	/rʌn/ /rʌn/
-ing form running	/ˈrʌnɪŋ/ /ˈrʌnɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

jump to other results

move fast on foot

[intransitive] to move using your legs, going faster than when you walk

Can you run as fast as Mike?
They turned and ran when they saw us coming.
She came running to meet us.
I had to run to catch the bus.
+ adv./prep. The dogs ran off as soon as we appeared.
He ran home in tears to his mother.
The children spent the morning running around in the park.
She can run really fast.

In spoken English run can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the infinitive, especially to tell somebody to hurry and do something: Run and get your swimsuits, kids. • I ran and knocked on the nearest door.

Extra Examples

John can run very fast.
He ran out of the house.
She ran quickly downstairs.
She turned and ran blindly down the street.
Alan was running for a bus when he slipped on some ice.
Billy turned the corner and ran headlong into Mrs Bradley.
They've seen us! Run for your life!
The boy went running off to get the ball.

Topics Health and Fitnessa1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

fast
quickly
blindly
…

verb + run

begin to
start to
get up and
…

preposition

down
into
out of
…

See full entry

[transitive] run something to travel a particular distance by running

Who was the first person to run a mile in under four minutes?
I ran four miles today.

race

[intransitive, transitive] to take part in a race

run in something He will be running in the 100 metres tonight.
There are only five horses running in the first race.
run something to run a marathon
Farah ran a fine race to take the gold medal.

hurry

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to hurry from one place to another

I've spent the whole day running around after the kids.

manage

[transitive] run something to be in charge of a business, campaign, etc.

to run a hotel/store/language school
He has no idea how to run a business.
Stop trying to run my life (= organize it) for me.
The shareholders want more say in how the company is run.
a badly run company
Both candidates have run a good campaign.
state-run industries

provide

[transitive] run something to make a service, course of study, etc. available to people synonym organize

The college runs summer courses for foreign students.
The programme will be jointly run with NASA in the US.

Extra Examples

The college runs several English classes for adults.
They ran a series of lectures on the subject.
Volunteer counsellors run a 24-hour helpline.

buses/trains

[intransitive] to travel on a particular route

Buses to Oxford run every half hour.
+ adv./prep. All the trains are running late (= are leaving later than planned).
Trains between London and Brighton run throughout the day.

Extra Examples

Local buses run regularly to and from the school.
He claimed that 95 per cent of trains run on time.
When does the London Underground stop running at night?

Topics Transport by bus and trainb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

regularly
late

preposition

between
from
to
…

See full entry

[transitive] to make buses, trains, etc. travel on a particular route

run something + adv./prep. They run extra trains during the rush hour.
The transport company is concerned about the cost of running more buses.

vehicle/machine

[intransitive, transitive] to operate or function; to make something do this

Stan had the chainsaw running.
run on something Our van runs on (= uses) diesel.
run something Could you run the engine for a moment?

Extra Examples

The engine was running very smoothly.
Our car only runs on unleaded petrol.

Topics Computersb2, Engineeringb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

efficiently
smoothly
continuously
…

preposition

phrases

be up and running

See full entry

[intransitive, transitive] when a computer program or system runs or somebody runs it, it operates

You may find that some apps are running slowly.
There are too many programs running on your computer.
You need to have antivirus software running on your PC.
The app runs on all Android devices.
run something You can run the program overnight.
My PC runs Windows 10.
Don't forget to run a final spellcheck.
What applications were you running when the problem occurred?

Topics Computersb2

[intransitive, transitive] if a recording on a tape runs or somebody runs it, it plays

He didn't know the tape was still running.
run something Run the tape, please.
run something + adv./prep. Can you run the tape back a few minutes?

[transitive] run something (British English) to own and use a vehicle or machine

I can't afford to run a car on my salary.

drive somebody

[transitive] run somebody + adv./prep. (informal) to drive somebody to a place in a car

Shall I run you home?
Would you mind running me to the shops?

Topics Transport by car or lorryc2

move somewhere

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move, especially quickly, in a particular direction

The car ran off the road into a ditch.
A shiver ran down my spine.
The sledge ran smoothly over the frozen snow.
The old tramlines are still there but now no trams run on them.

[transitive] run something + adv./prep. to move something in a particular direction

She ran her fingers nervously through her hair.
I ran my eyes over the page.

lead/stretch

[intransitive, transitive] to lead or stretch from one place to another; to make something do this

+ adv./prep. He had a scar running down his left cheek.
The road runs parallel to the river.
The railway line runs right past the house.
run something The bookcase runs the length of the room.
run something + adv./prep. We ran a cable from the lights to the stage.

liquid

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to flow

The tears ran down her cheeks.
Water was running all over the bathroom floor.

[transitive] to make liquid flow

run something (into something) She ran hot water into the bucket.
to run the hot tap (= to turn it so that water flows from it)
run something for somebody I'll run a bath for you.
run somebody something I'll run you a bath.

[intransitive] to send out a liquid

Who left the tap running?
Your nose is running (= mucus is flowing from it).
The smoke makes my eyes run.

[intransitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) run with something to be covered with a liquid

His face was running with sweat.
The bathroom floor was running with water.

of colour

[intransitive] if the colour runs in a piece of clothing, etc. when it gets wet, the colour comes out of the material and spreads into other pieces of clothing, etc. in the same water

The colour ran and made all my underwear pink.

Topics Colours and Shapesc2

melt

[intransitive] (of a solid substance) to melt

The wax began to run.

be/become

[intransitive] + adj. to become different in a particular way, especially a bad way

The river ran dry (= stopped flowing) during the drought.
Supplies are running low.
We understand that feelings are running high on this issue
We've run short of milk.
You've got your rivals running scared.

[intransitive] run at something to be at or near a particular level

Inflation was running at 26 per cent.

continue for time

[intransitive] to continue for a particular period of time without stopping

run for something Her last musical ran for six months on Broadway.
run from A to B The course runs from June 25th to August 27th.
This debate will run and run!

[intransitive] run (for something) to operate or be legally acceptable for a particular period of time

The permit runs for three months.
The lease on my house only has a year left to run.

happen

[intransitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) to happen or progress at the time or in the way mentioned

+ adv./prep. Programmes are running a few minutes behind schedule this evening.
Everything is running according to plan.
Her life had always run smoothly before.
The murderer was given three life sentences, to run concurrently.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

smoothly
concurrently
consecutively
…

See full entry

in election

[intransitive] to be a candidate in an election for a political position, especially in the US

Obama ran a second time in 2012.
run for somebody/something Hilary Clinton ran for president in 2016.
He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in New York.
run in something She is planning to run in the parliamentary election.

compare standTopics Politicsb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

successfully
unsuccessfully

preposition

See full entry

guns, drugs, etc.

[transitive] to bring or take something into a country illegally and secretly synonym smuggle

run something + adv./prep. He used to run guns across the border.
She made money by running drugs.

see also runnerTopics Crime and punishmentc2

of story/argument

[intransitive, transitive] to have particular words, contents, etc.

Their argument ran something like this…
+ speech ‘Ten shot dead by gunmen,’ ran the newspaper headline.

of newspaper/magazine

[transitive] run something to print and publish an item or a story

On advice from their lawyers they decided not to run the story.

a test/check

[transitive] run a test, a check, an experiment, etc. to do a test, an experiment, etc.

run something on something The doctors decided to run some more tests on the blood samples.
run something The two experiments are run in parallel.
The company is running clinical trials of the new drug.

of tights/stockings

[intransitive] (North American English) if tights or stockings run, a long thin hole appears in them synonym ladder

Word OriginOld English rinnan, irnan (verb), of Germanic origin, probably reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse rinna, renna. The current form with -u- in the present tense is first recorded in the 16th cent.

Idioms Most idioms containing run are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example run riot is at riot.

come running

to be pleased to do what somebody wants
- She knew she had only to call and he would come running.

run for it

(often used in orders) to run in order to escape from somebody/something

run roughshod over somebody (US English usually)

(especially British English ride, etc. roughshod over somebody)

to treat somebody badly and not worry about their feelings

up and running

working fully and correctly
- It will be a lot easier when we have the database up and running.
- We soon had the sound system up and running.

run

noun

/rʌn/

Idioms

jump to other results

on foot

[countable] an act of running; a period of time spent running or the distance that somebody runs

I go for a run every morning.
a five-mile run
The event comprised a 1500m swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.
Catching sight of her he broke into a run (= started running).
I decided to make a run for it (= to escape by running).
at a run She took the stairs at a run.
The Ethiopian is aiming to produce his second record-breaking run of the week.
The race consists of an eight-mile cross-country run followed by an army assault course.

trip

[countable] a trip by car, plane, boat, etc., especially a short one or one that is made regularly

They took the car out for a run.
We went for a run in his new car.

of success/failure

[countable] a period of something good or bad happening; a series of successes or failures synonym spell

a run of good/bad luck
Liverpool lost to Leeds, ending an unbeaten run of 18 games.
Manchester United have finally ended their run of victories.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

bad
disappointing
disastrous
…

verb + run

enjoy
have
begin
…

run + verb

begin
end

preposition

run of

See full entry

of play/movie

[countable] a series of performances of a play or film

The show had a record-breaking run in the London theatre.

Extra Examples

They play began its run last June.
The show has had its run extended till March.
The play had a long run in the West End.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

theatrical
long
short
…

verb + run

have
begin
end
…

run + verb

begin
end

See full entry

of product

[countable] the amount of a product that a company decides to make at one time

The first print run of 6 000 copies sold out.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

print
production

See full entry

money

[countable, usually singular] run on the dollar, pound, etc. a situation when many people sell dollars, etc. and the value of the money falls

[countable, usually singular] run on a bank a situation when many people suddenly want to take their money out of a bank

sudden demand

[countable, usually singular] run on something a situation when many people suddenly want to buy something synonym rush (6)

There's been a run on barbecues with the hot weather.

way things happen

[singular] the run of something the way things usually happen; the way things seem to be happening on a particular occasion

In the normal run of things the only exercise he gets is climbing in and out of taxis.
(British English) Wise scored in the 15th minute against the run of play (= although the other team had seemed more likely to score).

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

common
general
ordinary
…

phrases

against the run of play

See full entry

in sports

[countable] a sloping track used in skiing and some other sports

a ski/toboggan run

Topics Sports: other sportsc1

[countable] a point scored in the game of cricket or baseball

Our team won by four runs.

in election

[singular] (North American English) an act of trying to get elected to public office

He made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2008.
Senator Blake's run for the presidency

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

presidential

preposition

run for

See full entry

for animals/birds

[countable] (often in compounds) an area with a fence, walls, etc. in which animals or birds are kept as pets or on a farm

a chicken run

Topics Farmingc2

in music

[countable] a series of notes sung or played quickly up or down the scale

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

theatrical
long
short
…

verb + run

have
begin
end
…

run + verb

begin
end

See full entry

in card games

[countable] a series of cards held by one player

in tights/stockings

(North American English)

(British English ladder)

[countable] a long thin hole in tights or stockings where some threads have broken

illness

the runs

[plural] (informal) diarrhoea (= an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the bowels much more frequently than normal, and in liquid form)