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Glite Dictionary
to run along

to run along

15 2.5
To be in a line next to something, like a road
  • phrasal verb
  • /rʌn əˈlɔŋ/
translation icon : extenderse a lo largo de
  • A fence runs along the property line, marking the boundaries clearly.
  • ran along the wall
  • runs along the border
  • runs along the edge

He, his argument runs along these lines, or you might say his rational explanation.

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Examples

  • The chase came rustling along the narrow path that ran along the shore of the island.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The Serat Mountains run along the Red Sea coastline, reaching elevations above 13,000 feet.

    Academic text (1995)

  • This road runs along the north side of the woods.

    The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972)

  • There's a river that runs along this road.

    Envy (2004)

  • The intercity bus runs along this route.

    King of the Rocket Men (1949)

  • MAN: They are a strip of islands which run along the Carolina coastline.

    Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

  • C-111 is the main north-south canal running along the eastern edge of the park.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Sometimes the district boundaries run along railroad tracks or right down the centerline of a town's main drag.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The path runs along the edge of the park, providing a beautiful view of the lake.

  • The railway runs along the river, offering scenic views for passengers.

Synonyms

to parallel
vsto run along
7 4.8

To place something so it runs the same direction and stays the same distance from another

is a state of being in line alongside another object

Antonyms

to diverge
19 6.8

To move apart and also become different, like roads or opinions

How Aligned

to coincide
80 4.4
to run along
15 2.5
parallel
  • Specialized
80 3.2

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

run + along

The meaning 'to be in line with or to form a line alongside' is directly derivable from combining 'run' (extend/continue/move) with 'along' (beside/alongside), so the sense of something extending or following a line is predictable. This verb+particle compositional pattern is common in English and similar constructions exist in many languages, making it readily inferable for a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Run along gives a clear picture: something like a fence or a row of trees seems to run beside another thing. That's why run along means 'to be in line with' or 'to form a line alongside'.