SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

run down

verb

Definition of run down

transitive verb
1a : to collide with and knock downb : to run against and cause to sink
2a : to chase to exhaustion or until capturedb : to trace the source ofc : to tag out (a base runner) between bases on a rundown
3 : disparage
intransitive verb
1 : to cease to operate because of the exhaustion of motive power the clock ran down
2 : to decline in physical condition or vigor

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Examples of run down in a Sentence

finally ran down the answer after hours of research
constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it

First Known Use of run down

1686

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for run down Nglish: Translation of run down for Spanish speakers

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BROWSE DICTIONARY

rundown

run-down

run down

run dry

Rundstedt

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Examples: run down in a Sentence