run
Move quickly using legs
To move fast by using your legs, faster than walking.
to run [to/from/through] [a place]
- She runs five miles every morning before work.
- The children ran across the playground.
- I had to run to catch the bus.
- He runs faster than anyone in his class.
- I run to school every day.
- The dog runs in the park.
- We run to the shop.
- They run after the ball.
Operate or manage something
To be the boss of or control something like a shop or program.
to run [a business/event/machine]
- She runs a small café in the city center.
- He runs the marketing department at his firm.
- The software runs on all major operating systems.
- They run several community projects.
- My father runs a shop.
- He runs the computer program.
- She runs a big company.
- They run the school club.
Continue for some time
To keep going for a certain amount of time.
to run [for/until] [time period]
- The play will run for three weeks.
- The meeting ran over by 30 minutes.
- Her contract runs until next year.
- The movie runs for two hours.
- The class runs until 4 p.m.
- The game will run for one hour.
Flow like liquid or gas
For water, gas, or another thing to move from one place to another.
[liquid] runs [somewhere]
- Tears ran down her cheeks.
- A river runs through the valley.
- Water was running from the tap.
- Water runs down the street.
- My nose runs when I am sick.
- The river runs to the sea.
Escape by running away
To go away fast from danger or someone chasing you.
to run away [from someone/something]
- The prisoner ran from the guards.
- She ran away from home when she was sixteen.
- The thief ran as soon as he saw the police.
- I run from the dog.
- He ran away from home.
- They run from the fire.
Compete in race or election
To try to win in a race or election.
to run [in/for] [a race/position]
- She is running for mayor of the city.
- He ran in last year's marathon.
- Several candidates are running for office.
- She runs for president.
- He runs in the race.
- They run for class leader.
Be in state due to internal processes or energy flow
To have something happen inside you or a machine, like being hot with fever or working with electricity.
- He's been running a fever since yesterday.
- The clock runs on solar power.
- This model runs on electricity only.
- I run a fever today.
- The car runs on gas.
- The toy runs on batteries.
- Base: run
- 3rd Person Singular: runs
- Present Participle: running
- Past: ran
- Past Participle: run
- Irregular present participle: running Verb
- Irregular past: ran Verb
- Irregular past participle: run Verb
run for it
1Escape quickly by running suddenly
To suddenly start running to get away from danger or something bad.
- When they saw the guard, they decided to run for it.
- We had to run for it when the rain started pouring.
in the long run
1Eventually, after a long time
After much time has passed, considering the final result.
- In the long run, investing in education pays off.
- It will be cheaper in the long run to buy quality products.
- In the long run, this decision will save money.
- It may be hard now, but it will be worth it in the long run.
- In the long run, regular exercise benefits your health.
- It might be hard now, but in the long run you'll be happier.
in the long run
2over a long time, final effect
After a long time has passed, thinking about the final result.
- In the long run, investing in education pays off.
- You may feel tired now, but exercise will help you in the long run.
run late
1Be delayed beyond expected time
To be behind schedule and later than planned.
- Sorry, I'm running late for our meeting.
- Sorry I'm running late; traffic is bad today.
- I'm running late for my meeting.
- Sorry, I'm running late because of traffic.
- Sorry I'm running late — traffic was bad.
- Sorry I'm running late for the meeting.
- Sorry I'm running late; there was traffic.
- I’m running late for my appointment.
- Sorry, I’m running late for our meeting.
- Sorry I'm running late for our meeting.
- The train is running late today.
- The meeting is running late because the speaker arrived late.
- The train is running late because of bad weather.
- The train is running late due to bad weather.
- We might run late if this meeting takes too long.
- The meeting is running late today.
- Trains are running late due to bad weather.
run late
2Be delayed beyond expected time
To be behind schedule and later than planned.
- Sorry I'm running late for our meeting.
- The train is running late due to bad weather.
run into trouble
1Have problems unexpectedly during something
To have problems that you did not expect while doing something.
- 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
1Use all of something up
To finish all of something and have no more left.
- 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
4use all of a supply
To have no more of something because it has all been used.
- 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.