Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

run down

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.34 in modern English

Syllables: run -down
IPA

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them.

Transitive verb

verb

To criticize someone or an organisation, often unfairly.

Transitive verb

verb

To find something or someone after searching for a long time.

Transitive verb

verb

To lose power slowly. Used for a machine, battery, or other powered device.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

verb

To read quickly a list or other short text.

Transitive verb

verb

To describe in the form of a rundown, a rough outline or summary.

Transitive verb

verb

To reduce the size or stock levels of a business, often with a view to closure.

British usage; Transitive verb

verb

To decline in quality or condition.

Example Sentences

"He was run down while crossing the main road."
"'One of our witnesses has already had the misfortune to be rather badly run down while cycling, and I've had a natty-looking box of chocolates by post from an "unknown friend" myself,' replied the inspector."
"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!"
"Ha! ha! ha! 'tis very hard for them to leave a subject they have not quite run down."

Usage

Inflected Forms

runs down (present, singular) running down (participle, present) ran down (past)

Frequently Paired Words

run in

Synonyms

run to earth run to ground run over knock down put down demean berate track down

Questions

What does run down mean?: To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them.

How to pronounce run down

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “run down”.
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