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ran down

verb

past tense of run down
1
as in found
to come upon after searching, study, or effort finally ran down the answer after hours of research

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismissed
to express scornfully one's low opinion of constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ran down The two heard a gunshot and watched as a wounded deer ran down the clearing before collapsing. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Lukes was 0 for 2 with a deep liner that Carter, the center fielder, ran down at the wall in right center. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 Gold buttons ran down the front placket of the dress, which Obama complemented with gold rings, earrings and ear cuffs. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026 Team investment helped when the league and union’s initial $100 million fund ran down, and flag participation declined, in the early 2010s. — Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Bright flames shot out of an overhead compartment as flight attendants ran down the smoky aisle with fire extinguishers. — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026 Vertical stripes ran down much of the dress before shifting direction along the hem. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 The land, most of it operated by the Peconic Land Trust to ensure it’s never developed, ran down to the bay, and there were hiking paths running through the entire property. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026 Moments after the family left in a vehicle, six police officers ran down the street as a heavy law enforcement presence descended on downtown Las Vegas following reports of gunfire. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran down
  1. found
  2. dismissed
  3. learned
  4. minimized
  5. discovered
  6. talked down
  7. located
  8. diminished
Verb
  • Hayley Williams is speaking out days after her ex-husband, Chad Gilbert, the founding guitarist of pop-punk band New Found Glory, died at 45 following a battle with cancer.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Dentsu was founded in 1901 in Tokyo and now has a footprint spanning 120 countries and territories.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of found
Verb
  • In California, a federal judge this month dismissed the administration’s challenge to school sports policies allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams matching their gender identity.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Netanyahu dismissed the allegations, and is suing Levi and several other Israelis who have made similar charges.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of dismissed
Verb
  • Today, that room looks across UC Davis experimental fields — and toward the small airport where the home’s current owner, Elizabeth Thigpen, learned to fly as a teenager.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • These fans haven’t learned that in this city, there’s three ways to spell Loser.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of learned
Verb
  • The most common complaint, reported by one-third of women, was that providers minimized or dismissed their symptoms or pain.
    — Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Late Season Snow is inevitable in elk country and is usually the factor that triggers migration, although lately several years of mild weather have minimized elk movement.
    — Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of minimized
Verb
  • The animals were discovered on Friday in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to pastoral tribal communities that raise cattle.
    — Kristin Wright, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The group discovered early just how much responsibility for the community’s parks, landscaping and common areas rested with private organizations.
    — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of discovered
Verb
  • Oversimplifying things, on the other hand, would leave hardcore fans feeling as if they were being talked down to.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • There is a sense that it is patronised and talked down to a lot of the time.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of talked down
Verb
  • Nojoqui Falls Park is located on a small road off Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, but there’s no sign for the turnoff.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • It is located at the Cudahy Health Department entrance and is open during standard business hours.
    — Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of located
Verb
  • Cable’s not going away, broadcast isn’t going away; they’re just diminished.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • But fans were alarmed by Love’s gaunt appearance and diminished singing voice.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of diminished

Browse Nearby Words

randomness
ran down
randy
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Cite this Entry

“Ran down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran%20down. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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