run down

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See also: rundown and run-down



run down (third-person singular simple present runs down, present participle running down, simple past ran down, past participle run down)

  1. (transitive) To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them.
    He was run down while crossing the main road.
  2. (transitive) To criticize someone or an organisation, often unfairly.
    Whatever the company says, the media is going to run them down.
    My sister is always running me down in front of my friends.
    Don't run yourself down so much!
  3. (transitive) To find something or someone after searching for a long time.
    I finally managed to run down that report. I had filed it incorrectly.
  4. (transitive, intransitive) To lose power slowly. Used for a machine, battery, or other powered device.
    You need to wind up the clock every day so that it doesn't run down.
    If you don't switch off the car lights, you will run the battery down.
  5. (transitive) To read quickly a list or other short text.
    Running down the list of suggestions, I can see three we can discard immediately.
  6. (Britain, transitive) To reduce the size or stock levels of a business, often with a view to closure.
    The board of directors have decided to run down the stocks held in storage prior to offering the company for sale.
  7. To decline in condition.
    to run down in health
  8. (hunting) To chase till the object pursued is captured or exhausted.
    to run down a stag
  9. (nautical) To run against and sink, as a vessel.
  10. To crush; to overthrow; to overbear.
    • Berkeley
      Religion is run down by the licence of these times.

Usage notes[edit]

  • In all transitive senses except that of “to read quickly”, the object can come before or after the particle. If the object is a pronoun, then it must come before the particle.