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to run

to run

353 2.7
To let color or liquid spread and make marks
  • verb
  • /rʌn/
: correr
  • Let the water run down and wash away...
  • running water
  • run dry
  • river runs

The river and the waterfall runs purple.

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Examples

  • I cup water in my hand and run it around her mouth and neck.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I had exited onto a terrace overlooking a reflecting pool that runs the length of the building.

    Academic text (1999)
  • This color scale will run from red all the way up to blue.

  • Now, the shower drain runs into the ditch where the guy is.

  • I washed my hands and watched as the water ran red, then pink, and clear.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • So we have nerve fibers that run throughout our whole body.

  • It is so blue and gorgeous and it runs all the way through this region.

  • As stormwater begins to run off the developed site, it moves toward the storm drain.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Therefore, juvenile plants can have relatively large and shallow roots that run continuously among stems underground.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The river will run through the valley and provide water for the crops.

Synonyms

to flow
vsto run
364 1.0

To move steadily in a stream like a liquid or gas

is broader, also used for spreading of substances not just steady motion
to stream
vsto run
70 1.7

To flow out in large amounts, like liquid or tears

is general, covering flow or spreading at any scale
to course
vsto run
32 4.8

To move or flow steadily and smoothly through a place

focuses on flowing or spreading rather than smooth travel over distance
to run down
vsto run
32 2.5

To flow down a surface like water on a window

is broader, applying to spreading or movement in any direction
to bleed
vsto run
29 5.8

To spread from fabric or paper and stain nearby things

refers to liquid movement broadly, not only color diffusion
to flow out
vsto run
27 2.9

Move or pour out in a steady stream, often a liquid

is more general, covering spreading and flow in any direction
to run off
vsto run
9 2.9

Flow away from a surface into drains or rivers

covers spreading or moving like liquid, not only draining away
to feed
vsto run
8 2.5

To flow into another river, lake, or sea

focuses on movement or spreading in general, not only entering other bodies
to runneth
vsto run
  • Archaic
6 9.9

Flows quickly, like water in a river

is the modern common form rather than archaic wording
to pour forth
vsto run
3 7.1

To flow out in large amounts

is the general verb for flowing or spreading, not only small issuing

Antonyms

109 2.7

To lose all water or moisture so it has none left

Idioms

Something many members of the same family have

For a short time without thinking about long-term effects

Over a long time into the future

11 5.4

Manage a group or organization strictly to keep it working well

10 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

9 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

to run on fumes
  • Informal
8 7.5

To keep working with very little energy or money left

To face many difficult questions or strong criticism

To do something that might lead to harm or loss

6 4.6

To be much better than someone at doing something

to run the table
  • Informal
5 7.3

Win every game or match in a series without losing any

4 8.1

Feel sudden, strong fear or shock

4 7.3

To move quickly and attack often in sports or games

4 8.5

To act in a risky way without thinking about the bad results

4 8.4

Talk too much and say things you should not

2 8.1

To feel very excited about something and then lose interest often

to run a mile
  • Informal
2 7.1

Move away quickly to avoid something you are afraid of

To make someone very busy and tired with too much work

1 3.9

To move very fast with great energy

A score by a team while the other team controls the game

1 3.9

Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt

Move quickly from place to place trying to solve many urgent problems

Start with basic skills before trying harder tasks

Act in a confused or uncontrolled way because of strong emotion

To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both

to run amain
  • Archaic
9.9

To move very fast on foot to get somewhere quickly

6.7

A serious challenge that makes success difficult

A stream or river that flows very little because it is dry

Work very well and smoothly after being fixed or updated

9.9

Manage and look after a business

To support two opposite sides at the same time

Phrasal Verbs

907 1.6

To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control

758 1.9

Use all of something so none is left

622 1.9

Have no more of something because you used it all

556 2.7

Meet someone by chance without planning

361 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

to run off
  • Informal
353 3.7

To leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying goodbye

to run away from
  • Informal
206 2.9

To avoid dealing with a problem or responsibility

148 2.6

Experience a problem or difficulty unexpectedly

144 2.9

Stop being valid after a set time

Not enough time left to finish something

127 3.7

To use a particular fuel or source for power

123 1.1

To play and move quickly in different directions while making noise

114 2.2

To arrive later than planned or expected

100 3.3

A vehicle drives over a person or animal causing injury

Practice something to check for mistakes

To leave quickly with something stolen or taken without permission

to run the show
  • Informal
58 4.1

To be in charge of an activity or group

47 4.0

Owe a lot of money quickly

46 3.9

Act without control or limits

41 2.5

To have only a small amount left

40 4.7

Make someone or something go away

39 2.7

Find something by chance while doing something else

35 5.3

To try to escape quickly, often by running

32 2.5

To flow down a surface like water on a window

31 4.5

Have very strong feelings or tension

29 2.3

Hit something by accident while moving

to run scared
  • Informal
26 5.7

Act in a nervous way because you are afraid or feel pressure

24 7.5

To act wildly and cause chaos

24 5.6

To find the source of something by checking facts

To run for exercise often as a regular activity to get fit and feel relaxed

21 1.3

To move quickly past someone or let a chance go by without acting

19 4.2

To use up something so none is left, for example ideas

To take part in a long race on foot of about 26 miles

19 2.8

To last for a period of time

to got to run
  • Informal
19 3.5

Have to leave immediately or very soon

Leave a place quickly because people are angry or you are in trouble

17 1.0

To pass close to a person or place while moving quickly on foot

17 3.7

To have very little of something left

17 2.8

To keep going for longer than expected without stopping

To spread quickly, get out of control, and cause harm

16 6.5

To damage something by using it too much or managing it badly

15 7.9

To get into trouble for breaking rules or laws

15 5.5

To hit and pass over a person or animal with a vehicle

14 7.9

To get into trouble with rules or people in charge

To get a boat or ship stuck in shallow water near the shore

13 2.5

To be in a line next to something, like a road

to run on
  • Informal
13 5.0

To talk for a long time without stopping, often giving too many details

12 5.6

Raise a flag or sail by pulling on ropes

10 4.8

To quickly say the main points

9 6.5

To spend time casually with people who may cause trouble

9 5.6

Hold a second vote or match between top candidates to decide the winner

9 1.3

Water or other liquid flows out of a container by accident

9 1.1

To become difficult to control or stop, for example prices

9 2.9

Flow away from a surface into drains or rivers

To move quickly down the stairs to a lower floor

8 4.8

To lose energy or enthusiasm and stop working well

To go quickly around a town to do errands

to run ragged
  • Informal
8 6.3

To make someone very tired by giving them too much to do

7 3.2

To use up batteries, money or supplies until little remains

7 1.4

To move around quickly and energetically without a clear purpose

To go quickly to a shop to buy something you need

To act without care for other people or their rights

5 4.1

To follow and catch a person, animal or vehicle

Use up money or supplies quickly and wastefully

to run bases
  • Specialized
5 3.4

To move around all four bases on a baseball field to score, usually after hitting the ball

To suddenly start running, often after walking or standing still

2 5.8

Behave in a wild way without control

2 3.7

To stop having any water, like a river or well

2 7.5

Make someone very tired by giving them too much work

2 3.2

A liquid flows over the top of its container

1 3.4

Make copies of a document using a photocopier

To have almost no fuel left in a car

Use extra time on purpose so the other side cannot act

Compounds

195 3.2

A long time when you see the final result of actions

186 2.3

A hit that lets the batter run all the bases and score a run

71 3.7

A road accident where the driver leaves without stopping to help or give details

51 5.4

A vehicle crash caused by a driver who leaves without helping or saying who they are

47 4.2

Happening over a long time, not just now

30 4.1

Lasting for a short time, not long-term

run-of-the-mill
  • Informal
29 3.3

Ordinary and not special

29 3.4

A period when a person, team, or company has a lot of success

home run
  • Informal
27 2.5

A very successful result that achieves its goal

15 3.2

A short test to see if something works well before real use

14 4.2

A complete rehearsal of a play or presentation without stopping

13 4.1

A practice session before an event to check for problems

end run
  • US
12 7.6

A way of avoiding a rule or decision by acting cleverly

earned run
  • Specialized
9 6.3

A run charged to the pitcher when the other team makes no fielding error or passed ball

8 5.9

A sudden rise in prices or values over a short time

7 7.7

An indirect way to avoid a rule or problem

7 2.1

A short race people run for fun or to raise money for charity

6 1.0

A short jog in the morning to exercise and wake up

bombing run
  • Specialized
6 7.3

The part of a plane's mission when it approaches a target and drops weapons on it

6 6.1

A quick attack where the attackers leave immediately

5 7.5

One of two major Civil War battles that took place near a creek in Virginia

beer run
  • Informal
5 7.2

A quick trip to buy beer before a party or gathering

4 7.0

Many customers try to take out their money from a bank because they fear it will fail

earned run average
  • Specialized
4 6.5

Average number of runs a pitcher allows in nine innings, not counting runs after fielding mistakes

A sentence that joins more than one full idea without proper punctuation or connecting words

print run
  • Literature
3 3.7

The number of copies made for one edition of a magazine, book or newspaper

run-time
  • Specialized
3 4.2

The time when a computer program runs on a device

An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops

ski run
  • UK
2 2.9

A slope prepared and kept for people to ski on

run batted in
  • Specialized
2 5.3

A score given to a batter when their hit lets another player reach home

unearned run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

A run scored because a defensive player made a mistake, not from the batter's play

1 4.2

A quick approach an athlete makes to gain speed before a jump or throw

A major early Civil War battle fought in July 1861 near Manassas, Virginia that the Confederate army won

To steal something quickly and run away

press run
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A period when a printing press makes one set of newspapers or magazines

run of play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties

run-of-the-mine
  • Informal
1 7.2

Common and not special

1 2.2

An enclosed outdoor area where chickens live and move

1 5.5

A practice test to find and fix problems before the real event

run-in
  • Informal
1 5.2

An angry argument with someone

1 6.9

A creek in northeastern Virginia where two Civil War battles took place

end run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

An attempt to move the ball by running around the end of the line in American football

run-time error
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A problem that happens while a program is running because of wrong data or bad instructions

nudie run
  • NSFW
1 9.9

To run naked in public as a joke or dare

mine run
  • Archaic
1 8.4

Not special or interesting

split run
  • Jargon
1 8.1

A set of newspaper or magazine copies with some pages changed for different areas

1 3.6

A path that many people or vehicles use regularly

pit run
  • Specialized
1 7.9

Gravel taken directly from a pit or quarry with mixed stone sizes

pit-run gravel
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A loose mix of small stones and sand taken from a gravel pit and used as is

Chinese home run
  • Informal
9.0

A surprising and very large success

6.2

An enclosed yard where chickens or ducks are kept

rat run
  • UK
8.1

A narrow hidden path people use to go somewhere faster

tip-and-run
  • Jargon
8.6

A brief attack followed by a rapid retreat

How Fast

to pour
788 1.0
to run
353 2.7
to flow
364 1.0
to seep
74 2.7
to trickle
81 3.4

Surface Forms

run infinitive
running present participle
runs third person singular
ran past
run past participle

Etymology

Run meaning 'flow or spread' is very old and literal — things like water or dye 'run' because they move and spread, which is why color can 'run' in the wash.