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

The cops ran the thief down in an alley.

b

: to find (someone or something) after searching

c

: to tag out (a base runner) between bases on a rundown

3

: disparage

was always running himself down

4

: to say or repeat from beginning to end

ran down the list of names

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 of rundown

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

Get Morning Squawk directly to your inbox The Morning Squawk newsletter by Alex Harring is your rundown of five things to know before the stock market opens. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026

What follows is our rundown of his 41 films, with our rankings geared toward his work, not necessarily the quality of the movie itself. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Wolf, a construction worker who lived with his mother and aunt in a run-down apartment complex off Foothill Boulevard, vented in Instagram comments about the city’s handling of the homelessness crisis. —Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026

Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

During pregnancy, the two vertical muscles running down the front of your abdomen, the rectus abdominis muscles, must stretch to accommodate your growing baby. —Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026

The elbow-length collared shirt featured a plunging neckline and an opaque panel running down the very middle of her chest, leaving her bare sides and back covered in just the see-through material. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026

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