run·down
ˈrən-ˌdau̇n 
1
: an item-by-item report or review : summary
2
: a play in baseball in which a base runner who is caught off base is chased by two or more opposing players who throw the ball from one to another in an attempt to tag the runner out
ran down; run down; running down; runs down
1
a
: to collide with and knock down
b
: to run against and cause to sink
2
a
: to chase to exhaustion or until captured
b
: to trace the source of
c
: to tag out (a base runner) between bases on a rundown
3
1
: to cease to operate because of the exhaustion of motive power
the clock ran down
2
: to decline in physical condition or vigor
Synonyms
Noun
- abstract
- breviary
- brief
- capsule
- conspectus
- digest
- encapsulation
- epitome
- inventory
- outline
- précis
- recap
- recapitulation
- résumé
- resume
- resumé
- roundup
- run-through
- sum
- sum-up
- summa
- summarization
- summary
- summing-up
- synopsis
- wrap-up
Adjective
- beat-up
- bombed-out
- dilapidated
- dog-eared
- down-at-the-heels
- down-at-heel
- down-at-the-heel
- down-at-heels
- dumpy
- grungy
- mangy
- mean
- miserable
- moth-eaten
- neglected
- ratty
- scrubby
- scruffy
- seedy
- shabby
- sleazy
- tacky
- tatterdemalion
- tatty
- threadbare
- timeworn
- tumbledown
Verb
Examples of rundown in a Sentence
Noun
They gave us a rundown on the main points of the news.
a rundown of our public services
He was caught in a rundown.
Adjective
a run-down old house that really should be torn down
I'm afraid I'll be staying home today as I'm feeling run-down
Verb
finally ran down the answer after hours of research
constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it
Recent Examples on the Web
Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
Here's a rundown of some of the key findings from the study.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 15 May 2024
Here’s the full rundown, along with how many Instagram sunset posts Titan Travel found for each location:
1.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2024
Jumbo also gives you a weekly rundown of what it’s done for you.
—PCMAG, 15 May 2024
Here’s a rundown of the notable dates and deadlines to know about ...
May 12-19: The NBA Draft Combine will be held in Chicago.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 12 May 2024
Outside, the home is largely unassuming, if not a little rundown.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024
Below is the character rundown, which include Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn, Commissioner Jim Gordon and Clayface.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024
Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big new singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more.
—Rolling Stone, 3 May 2024
Eric Guzmán, Detroit Free Press, 4 May 2024
Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 3 May 2024
The other, half a mile away, was a fanciful, if run-down, turreted 64-room white clapboard confection.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 2 May 2024
So in January 2020, the couple bought a run-down Cayucos motor lodge called the Dolphin Inn and then spent the next two and a half years transforming it.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024
The unique nail-biter takes place in the shadows of L.A.’s homeless camps, run-down motels and dark alleys, following women who have turned — for various reasons — to a life of crime.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Inside was a seedy ’30s club supported by robust arches of stone, with run-down floorboards leading to arrangements of billiard tables and Thonet chairs.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2024
Take Shoreditch in east London as an example: Decades ago, developers deemed it a run-down industrial area.
—Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Until, that is, its restaurants started to get run-down and the menu didn’t adapt to the times.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
The footage shows Combs running down a hotel corridor wearing only a white towel, and assaulting Ventura, who is waiting for an elevator, seemingly trying to leave.
—TIME, 19 May 2024
Contrasting stripes running down each side infuse the dress with sporty flair.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
In the clip viewed by the Miami Herald, the Bad Boy Records founder is seen running down the hallway in just a towel at the InterContinental in Century City.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 May 2024
Video From there, my group stepped into the next room for some quick stretching beside the Venus de Milo and then ran down to the basement to the oldest part of the building.
—Catherine Porter Dmitry Kostyukov, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Elsewhere in the trailer, Ferrell is seen wrestling a live alligator in bed and running down a hall from what seems to be enraged wedding guests.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2024
The man had blood running down his face when police arrived.
—Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
Drenched as well, Doja Cat dropped jaws with metallic eyeliner tears running down her cheeks (think: dramatized Chet Lo FW24 show).
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 7 May 2024
Noun
Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more.
—Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
Here's a rundown of some of the key findings from the study.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 15 May 2024
Here’s the full rundown, along with how many Instagram sunset posts Titan Travel found for each location:
1.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2024
Jumbo also gives you a weekly rundown of what it’s done for you.
—PCMAG, 15 May 2024
Here’s a rundown of the notable dates and deadlines to know about ...
May 12-19: The NBA Draft Combine will be held in Chicago.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 12 May 2024
Outside, the home is largely unassuming, if not a little rundown.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024
Below is the character rundown, which include Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn, Commissioner Jim Gordon and Clayface.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024
Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big new singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more.
—Rolling Stone, 3 May 2024
Adjective
Clark Park, in the heart of southwest Detroit, was in disrepair, with ruts in the baseball field, a run-down rec center and a decrepit ice rink.
—Eric Guzmán, Detroit Free Press, 4 May 2024
Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 3 May 2024
The other, half a mile away, was a fanciful, if run-down, turreted 64-room white clapboard confection.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 2 May 2024
So in January 2020, the couple bought a run-down Cayucos motor lodge called the Dolphin Inn and then spent the next two and a half years transforming it.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024
The unique nail-biter takes place in the shadows of L.A.’s homeless camps, run-down motels and dark alleys, following women who have turned — for various reasons — to a life of crime.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Inside was a seedy ’30s club supported by robust arches of stone, with run-down floorboards leading to arrangements of billiard tables and Thonet chairs.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2024
Take Shoreditch in east London as an example: Decades ago, developers deemed it a run-down industrial area.
—Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Until, that is, its restaurants started to get run-down and the menu didn’t adapt to the times.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Combs can be seen running down the same hallway, shirtless and holding a towel around his waist.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
The footage shows Combs running down a hotel corridor wearing only a white towel, and assaulting Ventura, who is waiting for an elevator, seemingly trying to leave.
—TIME, 19 May 2024
Contrasting stripes running down each side infuse the dress with sporty flair.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
In the clip viewed by the Miami Herald, the Bad Boy Records founder is seen running down the hallway in just a towel at the InterContinental in Century City.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 May 2024
Video From there, my group stepped into the next room for some quick stretching beside the Venus de Milo and then ran down to the basement to the oldest part of the building.
—Catherine Porter Dmitry Kostyukov, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Elsewhere in the trailer, Ferrell is seen wrestling a live alligator in bed and running down a hall from what seems to be enraged wedding guests.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2024
The man had blood running down his face when police arrived.
—Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
Drenched as well, Doja Cat dropped jaws with metallic eyeliner tears running down her cheeks (think: dramatized Chet Lo FW24 show).
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 7 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rundown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to rundown
Dictionary Entries Near rundown
Cite this Entry
“Rundown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rundown. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rundown
1 of 3 noun
run·down
ˈrən-ˌdau̇n
: an item by item report : summary
run-down
2 of 3 adjectiveˈrən-ˈdau̇n
1
: being in poor condition
a run-down farm
2
: being in or indicating poor health
that run-down feeling
run down
3 of 3 verbˈrən-ˈdau̇n
1
: to collide with and knock down
2
a
: to chase until exhausted or captured
b
: to find by search : trace the source of
3
: to stop operating because of the exhaustion of an energy source
the battery ran down
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