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

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening across the Queen City. —Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026

And in a nod to anyone who’d ever had to give their mom a mid-movie rundown of which character was which and how they were related to one another, everyone on-screen wore a name tag. —Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026

Adjective

Abandoned in the dark, rutted parking lot of a run-down strip mall, Nurul Amin would have sensed the shadowy unwelcome of closed and vacant storefronts. —Dan Barry, New York Times, 12 May 2026

Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new drops available on streaming services. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026

Verb

This dress included floral embroidery around the collar, neckline, cuffs and running down the front placket of the design. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 May 2026

Wachsmann got some help from his defense in that game — specifically by his third baseman on a bunt play and on a gapper that the center fielder ran down — but was otherwise unhittable. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 May 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