specify
gb/spˈɛsəfˌaɪ/ us/spˈɛsəfˌaɪ/
A1
English
~ 2400
fut, szalad, működik, jár, működtet, üzemeltet, vezet, irányít, indul
VERB
A1
1
Usage pattern:
to run [somewhere]
She runs every morning before work.
The children ran across the park.
He ran to catch the bus.
They ran down the street to help.
I run five kilometers every Saturday.
Learner examples
I run to school every day.
He runs very fast.
We run in the park.
They run to the shop.
She runs with her dog.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'run' with 'walk' when talking about moving quickly; remember 'run' is faster and involves both feet leaving the ground briefly.
Meaning
Move quickly by foot
Collocations
run fast
|run away
|run a race
|run quickly
Synonyms
sprint (Implies running at maximum speed for a short distance.)
Antonyms
walk (Moving at a slower pace without both feet leaving the ground.)
Themes
sports
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move fast on your feet, faster than walking.
To move at a speed faster than walking by taking both feet off the ground in each stride.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to run [a machine/system]
The engine is running smoothly now.
I run the washing machine twice a week.
The software runs on all major platforms.
The heater runs all night in winter.
Learner examples
The car runs well.
I run the computer every day.
The machine runs all night.
This phone runs fast.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical running; here it means working or operating, not moving quickly.
Meaning
Operate or be in operation
Collocations
run smoothly
|run properly
|run continuously
|run automatically
Synonyms
operate (More formal; often used in technical contexts.)
Antonyms
stop (To cease operation or functioning.)
Themes
technology
|daily life
|work
Definition
To work or make something work.
To be in operation or cause something to function.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to run [a business/event]
She runs her own bakery in town.
He runs the marketing department efficiently.
They run several charity events each year.
My uncle runs a small hotel by the beach.
Learner examples
She runs a shop.
He runs a school.
They run a farm.
I run a small café.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'run' with 'own'; you can own something without running it, and vice versa.
Meaning
Manage or be in charge of something
Collocations
run a company
|run a campaign
|run a shop
|run a project
Synonyms
manage (General term for being in charge; less dynamic than 'run'.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failing to take care of managing something.)
Themes
business
|management
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be the boss of a business or activity and make it work.
To direct, control, or be responsible for the operation of an organization, business, or activity.
VERB
B2
4
indul
B1
Usage pattern:
to run for [position]
She is running for governor next year.
He ran for mayor but lost the election.
They plan to run for office in the upcoming election.
Learner examples
I want to run for president.
She runs for school council.
He ran for mayor last year.
Common mistake:
Learners might think 'run for' means physically running towards something; here it is about elections.
Meaning
Compete in an election
Collocations
run for president
|run for office
|run for mayor
Synonyms
stand (British English equivalent; 'stand for election'.)
Antonyms
resign (To leave an official position voluntarily instead of seeking it.)
Themes
politics
Definition
To try to get elected for a job in government by asking people to vote for you.
To stand as a candidate in an election for a political position.
Grammar
Dictionary form
specify
IPA
GB/spˈɛsəfˌaɪ/
US/spˈɛsəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
spe - cify (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (spe)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: specify
- 3rd Person Singular: specifies
- Present Participle: specifying
- Past: specified
Word family
Forms
specifies
verb
specifying
verb
specified
verb
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unspecified
adjective
Advanced or less common
specificity
noun
specifier
noun
Expressions
on the run
1/ˈɔn ðə ɹˈʌn/
idiom
Escaping from authorities or danger
Trying to avoid being caught by police or other authorities.
Examples
- The fugitive has been on the run for weeks.
- The suspect has been on the run for two days.
- The suspect has been on the run for three days.
- The suspect has been on the run for two weeks.
- They are on the run from the police.
- They lived on the run after escaping from prison.
- They lived on the run after escaping prison.
on the run
2/ˈɔn ðə ɹˈʌn/
idiom
Hiding while escaping capture
Escaping from someone who wants to catch you, usually police or enemies.
Examples
- The suspect has been on the run for two weeks.
- The suspect has been on the run for two days.
- The suspect is still on the run after escaping prison.
- They lived on the run after escaping prison.
- They were on the run after escaping prison.
- I’ve been on the run all morning, going from meeting to meeting.
- I've been on the run all day with errands.
run into trouble
1/ɹˈʌn ˈɪntu tɹˈʌbəl/
fixed phrase
Have problems unexpectedly during something
To have problems that you did not expect while doing something.
Examples
- We ran into trouble when our car broke down on the way home.
- We ran into trouble when our car broke down.
- We ran into trouble when the car broke down.
- We ran into trouble when our car broke down on the trip.
- We ran into trouble when our car broke down halfway there.
- We ran into trouble when our car broke down on vacation.
- The project ran into trouble when we lost funding.
- The project ran into trouble due to lack of funding.
- The project ran into trouble due to budget cuts.
- She ran into trouble with her project at work.
- He ran into trouble with his taxes.
- The project ran into trouble after losing funding.
- He ran into trouble with his taxes last year.
- She ran into trouble with her taxes this year.
- He ran into trouble at work after missing several deadlines.
- The project ran into trouble because of budget cuts.
- He ran into trouble with the law last year.
run out of
1/ɹˈʌn ˈaʊt əv/
phrasal verb
Use all of something up
To finish all of something and have no more left.
Examples
- We ran out of milk this morning.
- We've run out of milk, so I'll go buy some.
- We've run out of milk, so I'll buy more.
- We've run out of milk, so I'll go buy more.
- We've run out of milk, so I'll go buy some more.
- We’ve run out of milk, so I need to go to the store.
- We've run out of milk, so I need to go shopping.
- We ran out of water during the hike.
- They ran out of time before finishing the exam.
- He ran out of time before finishing the test.
- She ran out of time during the exam.
- She ran out of time before finishing the test.
- The printer ran out of paper during the meeting.
- I can't print because I've run out of paper.
- He ran out of money before the end of the month.
- She ran out of patience and left the meeting.
- She ran out of time before finishing the exam.
- Hurry up, we’re running out of time!
- The printer ran out of ink in the middle of the job.
- If we keep spending like this, we’ll run out of money by next month.
run out of
4/ɹˈʌn ˈaʊt əv/
phrasal verb
use all of a supply
To have no more of something because it has all been used.
Examples
- We ran out of time before the last question.
- The car ran out of gas on the highway.
- Don't forget to order more cups; we're running out of cups.
Learner examples
- I ran out of money at the end of the trip.
- We are running out of ideas.