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💧 To flow downward 🔎 To investigate 🔋 To use up 🏃 To chase and catch 🚗 To hit with vehicle 📋 To review quickly
to run down

to run down

31 2.5
To flow down a surface like water on a window
  • phrasal verb
  • /rʌn daʊn/
translation icon : escurrirse
  • During the rain, the water began to run down the windowpane.
  • tears ran down her cheeks
  • tears ran down my cheeks
  • tears ran down his face

And that soapy water running down the crack doesn't do anything.

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Examples

  • As the ice melted, it ran down the surface of the table.

  • The room was cool, but a trickle of sweat began to run down her back.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The blood ran down his neck.

    Edmond (2005)

  • Let the water run down your back.

    Arabesque (1966)

  • I got a long streak of blood running down the middle of the road here.

    Endangered (2022)

  • And then I looked over at him and his head, he's had tears running down his face.

    Shawn Ryan Show

  • Why are there tears running down your cheeks?

    Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

  • When the game ended, we ran down the bleachers and walked home.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The wolves surged over the edge and ran down the slope, gaining speed as they went.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Joan hurries out of the house and runs down the driveway toward the low-rider.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

to trickle
vsto run down
70 3.4

To flow slowly in drops or a thin stream

moves steadily along a lower surface rather than slowly and irregularly
to drip down
vsto run down
12 1.4

Liquid falls in small drops down a surface

moves continuously along a lower surface rather than in drops
to run off
vsto run down
7 2.9

Flow away from a surface into drains or rivers

moves along a lower surface instead of leaving the area
to cascade down
vsto run down
4 4.2

To fall or flow quickly in large amounts like a waterfall

moves along a lower surface rather than falling like a waterfall
to wash down
vsto run down
4 3.3

To move along with a strong flow of water

moves along a lower surface rather than being carried by current
to hurtle down
vsto run down
2 6.7

Move quickly and without control down a hill or road

moves along a lower surface in a controlled or gentle way
to flow downstream
vsto run down
1 2.6

Move with a river's current toward a lower place

moves along a lower surface rather than along a watercourse
to sluice down
vsto run down
1 7.6

Flow quickly and strongly down a surface like water after heavy rain

moves gently along a lower surface rather than pouring forcefully
to flow off
vsto run down
3.2

To move away from a surface in a steady stream, like water does

moves along a lower surface rather than moving away

How Fast

to cascade
17 4.7
to run down
31 2.5
to trickle
70 3.4
to drip
171 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

run + down

The idea of causing something to be brought down by movement is derivable from 'run' (movement) + 'down' (to bring down), so learners could partly infer a physical knocking-down sense. However, the specific sense involving striking and passing over with a vehicle (akin to 'run over') is a more specific usage that is not fully predictable from the parts and may require prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Run down comes from the very literal image of liquid that 'runs' and moves 'down' a surface, for example water running down a window after rain. So it means 'to move or flow downward'.