1
as in found
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
finally ran down the answer after hours of research
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Paul Marie ran down the right side and delivered a pinpoint cross to Judd, who ran between two defenders and redirected the ball past goalie Yohei Takaoka.
—
Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
Ratzlaff won the ensuing faceoff, ran down the field and scored nine seconds later.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 10 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
On successive plays at Chiefs rookie mini-camp on Friday, new receiver Cyrus Allen hauled in a tight-window dart over the middle from fellow draft pick Garrett Nussmeier; not long after, Jeff Caldwell ran down a sideline pass for a big gain.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Evelyn ran down from her seat two rows up, dropped to the ground and attempted to secure the ball in front of her.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Large clouds of ash could also be seen filling the skies as the hikers ran down El Paso de la Muerte, also known as the Death Trail, according to Storyful.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, who are set to challenge the champions on the upcoming Monday Night Raw, ran down to make the save.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
The verbal altercation continued as both players ran down the court following the free throw.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
Ratzlaff won the ensuing faceoff, ran down the field and scored nine seconds later.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 10 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
On successive plays at Chiefs rookie mini-camp on Friday, new receiver Cyrus Allen hauled in a tight-window dart over the middle from fellow draft pick Garrett Nussmeier; not long after, Jeff Caldwell ran down a sideline pass for a big gain.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Evelyn ran down from her seat two rows up, dropped to the ground and attempted to secure the ball in front of her.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Large clouds of ash could also be seen filling the skies as the hikers ran down El Paso de la Muerte, also known as the Death Trail, according to Storyful.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, who are set to challenge the champions on the upcoming Monday Night Raw, ran down to make the save.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
The verbal altercation continued as both players ran down the court following the free throw.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran down
Verb
-
The Chicago Defender newspaper was founded.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
It was founded in 1998 by Germaine Acogny, who is widely regarded as the mother of African contemporary dance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
And that’s partly why Weltman dismissed coach Jamahl Mosley the day after the Magic were eliminated and also discussed Orlando’s roster needs — which, in his eyes, include more shooting and veteran help.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
-
Adams dismissed this notion out of hand, with no small amount of hostility.—
New York Daily News,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
According to the filing, Kilcher learned the truth late last year when a broadcast video interview with Cameron began circulating on social media.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
7 May 2026
-
But as some have learned the hard way, that tendency of random things to appear to form patterns means that the other peak might be just noise.—
Faye Flam,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Those fights faded once governments began delineating specific zones where such projects were allowed and impacts could be minimized.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Warsh also minimized the president’s threats against the central bank, asserting that the Fed isn’t actually in any immediate danger of being coerced.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Highway signage along the American River, where gold was discovered by a sawmill operator named James Marshall in 1848; Route 49 connects California’s historic gold-rush boom towns.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The name came from one friend, Mike Basso, who remembered what another, Red Murff, a former big-league pitcher and longtime scout (who famously discovered Nolan Ryan), had taught them before passing — to be a keeper of the game.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Baldwin also said district custodians are understaffed, supplied with broken or old equipment, have been denied language interpreters during meetings and are in general talked down to by administrative staff.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
There’s always a chance that Fetterman’s prospective foes get talked down from the ledge.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In selecting Norwich, a city centrally located in the eastern part of the state, the team has found a home stadium that looks much different than the large-scale plans Swanston had for a $1 billion waterfront stadium and mixed-use development project in Bridgeport.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Russia’s Foreign Ministry advised foreign embassies and international organizations located in Kyiv to evacuate their offices in case such a strike did take place, and the Defense Ministry urged civilians to evacuate, too.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The unlikely union lasted 10 years and the mutual admiration between the two famed figures never diminished.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
While the immediate flood threat has diminished, rain is expected to persist along the Mid-Atlantic coast.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran%20down. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
