rundown 1 of 3

noun

ˈrən-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce rundown (audio)
Definition of rundownnext
as in summary
a short statement of the main points a rundown of the suspect's lengthy police record

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run-down

2 of 3

adjective

ˈrən-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce run-down (audio)
1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a run-down old house that really should be torn down

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2
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body I'm afraid I'll be staying home today as I'm feeling run-down

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run down

3 of 3

verb

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

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

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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 rundown
Noun
In our battery rundown test, the tablet manages 11 hours and 40 minutes. — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026 In fact, long before Ricky and Tepper’s bizarro movie night, that same news anchor (Ryan Perez) sits in a field behind a rundown building, calmly announcing Armageddon as a pack of zombies closes in. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 July 2026
Adjective
Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026 But the film is really a tour of a pre-gentrified East Village, full of low-key bars and cafes, run-down apartments, eccentrics and struggling artists. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Verb
Not Bone, But Nerve That something is the ulnar nerve, one of the three major nerves running down the arm. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Blood runs down Zack’s chin before his parents swear to tell the truth. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rundown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rundown
  1. summary
  2. dilapidated
  3. sick
  4. find
  5. dismiss
  6. neglected
  7. poorly
  8. learn
Noun
  • Engineers are continuing to analyze information collected during the testing campaign, with a technical summary expected following completion of the review.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The feature offers a two-sentence summary for each of the 32,000 shots hit during a tournament.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of summary
Adjective
  • Instead, city staff could first more narrowly issue an order to repair a dilapidated historic building and then expedite approval for those repairs on the back end, without needing a hearing through the Historic Preservation Commission.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The zoo, which houses more than 1,600 animals, has become dilapidated over the years.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • People without risk factors generally do not get sick or display symptoms from Candida auris.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The river boat passenger had become sick and disembarked nearly three weeks ago in Pimu, in the province of Mongala, more than 1,000 kilometers from Kinshasa along the Congo River, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said on Thursday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of sick
Verb
  • Officers at the scene found a man who had been hit by a fleeing vehicle.
    — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes poison ivy will creep into beds from nearby woodlands, but these plants can also find their way into flower beds via seeds dropped by birds.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of find
Verb
  • Last year, he was separately charged with making false statements to Congress, though the indictment was dismissed.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Lauder also reportedly dismissed the longtime advisors and ad makers who ran his political operation, the Times report shows.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.
    — Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Definition of poorly
Verb
  • Homeschool enrichment programs allow homeschooled students to participate in public school activities and learning part-time.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In May, Sydney learned her cancer had spread and was present in her peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen and pelvis, per the Cleveland Clinic.
    — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of learn

Browse Nearby Words

rundlets
rundown
run-down
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Cite this Entry

“Rundown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rundown. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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