rundown

1 of 3

noun

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

run-down

2 of 3

adjective

ˈrən-ˈdau̇n 

1

: being in poor repair : dilapidated

2

: worn-out, exhausted

3

: completely unwound

run down

3 of 3

verb

ran down; run down; running down; runs down

transitive verb

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

: 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

Synonyms

Noun

• summary

Adjective

• dilapidated
• neglected

Verb

• find
• learn
• discover
• locate
• track (down)
• get
• find out

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

Noun

For a rundown of the other nostalgic TV stars nominated at this year’s ceremony, broadcasting on Sept. 14 on CBS, read on below. —EW.com, 15 July 2025

Here’s a soup-to-nuts rundown of Philadelphia’s deadline needs and plans from Matt Gelb, while Charlotte Varnes tells us about a Phillies draft trend. —Levi Weaver, New York Times, 11 July 2025

Adjective

Another factor to keep in mind is renovation; As previously explained, many of these €1 housing deals are extremely run-down, and renovations can typically cost as much as tens of thousands of dollars. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 July 2025

Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 July 2025

Verb

There are 32 active volcano systems in the region spread across three rift zones, all part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a mountain range that mostly runs down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 July 2025

The truck may have been taking up a small portion of a bike lane that runs down Broadway near Cedar St. at the time of the attack, a police source with knowledge of the incident said. —Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for rundown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

rundown

1 of 3 noun

run·​down ˈrən-ˌdau̇n 

: an item by item report : summary

run-down

2 of 3 adjective

ˈrən-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 verb

ˈrən-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