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Glite Dictionary
to run downstairs

to run downstairs

9 1.0
To move quickly down the stairs to a lower floor
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : bajar corriendo
  • When the fire alarm went off, everyone ran downstairs to evacuate the building.
  • ran downstairs to grab
  • ran downstairs to the kitchen
  • came running downstairs

I was like I don't care and I ran downstairs with Amanda Los Brazos.

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Examples

  • Then he ran downstairs and out onto the street.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • You want me to run downstairs and get you a beer?

    Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

  • And she ran downstairs and started telling my dad.

  • Do you hear anybody running downstairs to help?

    The House That Jack Built (2018)

  • I have to run downstairs every night to listen to the radio.

    Scarlet Street (1945)

  • I ran downstairs with it and saw that the bags were gone.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Could you run downstairs and get those outfits you returned for me yesterday?

    Maid in Manhattan (2002)

  • Jackie ran downstairs and found her dad at the breakfast table.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Let me run downstairs and get some note cards and some pencils.

    Possession (2002)

  • Why don't you run downstairs and gather up our tickets from your grandfather while I finish up here?

    The Parent Trap (1998)

Synonyms

to trot down
vsto run downstairs
1 3.8

Walk quickly for a short distance to a nearby place

goes to a lower floor using stairs rather than moving casually nearby
to leg it
vsto run downstairs
  • UK
1 9.0

Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast

moves quickly to a lower floor without necessarily escaping or fleeing

Antonyms

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

How Fast

sprint
55 2.1
to rush
548 1.0
to run downstairs
9 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

run + downstairs

The meaning 'to move quickly to a lower floor' is directly and transparently built from 'run' (move quickly on foot) plus 'downstairs' (to or on a lower floor). This motion verb + locative adverb composition is a standard, cross-linguistic pattern and would be immediately inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Run downstairs creates a simple image of someone hurrying down the steps. Run means to move quickly and downstairs means to a lower floor, so it means 'to move quickly to a lower floor'.