verb

run

ruhn

verb

To move quickly on foot, faster than walking.

"She ran to catch the bus."

"The kids ran across the playground, laughing."

To manage or be in charge of something.

"He runs a small bakery downtown."

"My sister runs a small marketing agency from home."

To operate or function, especially of a machine, program, or system.

"The app runs smoothly even on older phones."

"This old software still runs fine on modern computers."

To flow, as a liquid does.

"Tears ran down her face."

"Sweat ran down his back after the workout."

noun

An act of running.

"I go for a run every morning before work."

"A quick run around the block helps clear my head."

A continuous period or sequence of similar events.

"The team is on a five-game winning run."

"Stocks are on a run after the positive earnings report."

How to Use Run

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo move fast on foot — or, more broadly, to operate, manage, or flow.

Memory tip

Run has dozens of meanings in English — learn these core ones first; context tells you which is meant.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

go for a run run a business run smoothly a winning run

Word Forms

ran past tense, run past tense, run plural, ran plural, runs plural, runs singular, run singular, ran singular, runnest singular, ranst singular, rannest singular, runneth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ a small bakery downtown.

Etymology

From Old English rinnan and iernan, both meaning "to run," which merged over time into one word.

Synonyms

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gallop execute start tread ladder

Antonyms

rise riser

Related Words

increase accomplish close fall finish begin activate leave

Rhymes for run

Brun Arun rerun Harun Varun Tarun outrun overrun

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gallop execute start tread ladder rise riser increase accomplish close fall finish