run
run
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "run" is /rʌn/.
Syllable Breakdown:
/rʌn/
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant
/ʌ/: Near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Base Form: run
Third-person singular simple present: runs
Present participle: running
Simple past: ran
Past participle: run
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To move at a speed faster than walking, with both feet leaving the ground during each stride.
Synonyms: sprint, jog, race, dash, dart
Antonyms: walk, crawl, stand, stop, stroll
Definition 2: To be in charge of or manage an organization, business, or system.
Synonyms: operate, manage, direct, control, oversee
Antonyms: neglect, abandon, follow, submit
Definition 3: (Of a liquid) to flow or cause to flow.
Synonyms: flow, stream, gush, pour, trickle
Antonyms: stop, cease, dry (up), stagnate
Definition 4: To continue for a specified period of time; to extend or last.
Synonyms: last, continue, extend, persist, endure
Antonyms: end, cease, stop, conclude, terminate
Definition 5: (Of a machine or device) to operate or function.
Synonyms: operate, function, work, perform, be active
Antonyms: break down, stop, malfunction, fail
Definition 6: To compete in a race or election.
Synonyms: compete, contend, participate, vie, campaign (for election)
Antonyms: withdraw, concede, forfeit
Noun
Definition 1: An act or spell of running.
Synonyms: sprint, jog, dash, race, scamper
Antonyms: walk, stroll, crawl, halt, stand
Definition 2: A continuous spell of something, especially a period of success or activity.
Synonyms: streak, spell, period, stretch, series
Antonyms: halt, cessation, interruption, break
Definition 3: A tear or ladder in knitted fabric, especially stockings or tights.
Synonyms: ladder, tear, rip, snag, unraveling
Antonyms: mend, repair, intactness, wholeness
Definition 4: A path or course, especially one designated for a specific activity.
Synonyms: path, track, course, trail, route
Antonyms: obstruction, barrier, standstill
Definition 5: A rapid and often unexpected decline or decrease.
Synonyms: decline, decrease, drop, fall, slump
Antonyms: increase, rise, boom, surge
Examples of Use
Books:
"He tried to run, but his legs felt like lead, stuck in the muddy ground." (From The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck)
"The algorithm will run a simulation of the market, predicting trends for the next quarter." (From Deep Learning for Coders with Fastai and PyTorch by Jeremy Howard and Sylvain Gugger)
Newspapers:
"The Nairobi Marathon will run through the city's central business district, attracting thousands of participants." (Daily Nation)
"Politicians run on platforms promising economic growth and social justice." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Developers are working to optimize the new application so it can run smoothly on various operating systems." (TechCrunch)
"A recent study found that regular exercise, including a daily run, significantly improves cardiovascular health." (Healthline)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Why do we run?" (Line from the film Blade Runner 2049)
Music: "Born to Run" (Title of a song by Bruce Springsteen, released August 1975)
Video Games: "Your character must run and jump over obstacles to collect coins in this level." (Gameplay instruction in Super Mario Bros., released September 1985)
Television: "The new season of the show will run for ten episodes." (Announcement on Netflix, May 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to run to the grocery store before it closes." (Common casual conversation)
"Can you run through the presentation one more time before the meeting?" (Workplace discussion)
"The river tends to run higher during the rainy season." (Observation about local geography)
"We had a good run of luck this month, but it can't last forever." (Informal expression about a period of fortune)
10 Quotes Using Run
"Either you run the day or the day runs you." (Jim Rohn)
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." (Margaret Thatcher)
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." (Will Rogers)
"Bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible." (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
"I don't run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days." (Ronald Rook)
"You can't run away from your problems. They will just chase you and get bigger and bigger. If you stand and face them, they will shrivel and disappear." (W.H. Fordham)
"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." (Oprah Winfrey)
"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." (Babe Ruth)
"Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." (Ronald Reagan)
"The course of true love never did run smooth." (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Etymology
The word "run" has a really long and interesting history, going all the way back to some of the earliest forms of language.
Its roots are in a very old language called Proto-Indo-European, which was spoken thousands of years ago. From there, it developed into Proto-Germanic, an ancestor of many modern European languages, including English. In Proto-Germanic, the word was something like rinnan or rannjanan, and it meant "to flow" or "to cause to run."
When we get to Old English (the English spoken before about 1150 AD), "run" appears in two main forms:
rinnan (or irnan): This was the main verb for "to move swiftly by using the legs, faster than walking." It also meant "to flow" (like a river) or "to make haste." This is the core meaning we still use today.
ærnan: This was a more "causative" verb, meaning "to cause something to run," often specifically "to ride" or "to gallop" a horse.
Over time, these two Old English words kind of merged together, and their meanings blended. By the time we get to Middle English (roughly 1150 to 1500 AD), the word started to look and sound more like our modern "run."
So, the first known uses and meanings of "run" were primarily about swift movement by foot and the flowing of liquids. From there, it branched out into all the many meanings we have today, like managing a business, a machine operating, or a fabric tearing. It's a word that has "run" through a lot of changes over thousands of years!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Run
Run out of steam: To lose energy or enthusiasm.
Run in the family: To be a common characteristic within a family.
Run into (someone/something): To meet someone unexpectedly or to encounter a difficulty.
Run wild: To grow or behave without control.
Run riot: To behave in a wild and uncontrolled way.
Run a tight ship: To manage something, such as an organization or household, very efficiently and with strict discipline.
Run a fever: To have a high body temperature.
Run the risk: To take a chance on something bad happening.
Run with the idea: To develop and pursue a concept or plan.
Run for it: To attempt to escape or get away quickly.
Run on empty: To continue to function or operate without sufficient resources or energy.
Run through (something): To rehearse or review something quickly, or to use up or spend money quickly.
Run rings around (someone): To be much better or faster than someone else.
On the run: Trying to avoid being captured or caught.
In the long run: Over a long period of time; eventually.
Have a good run: To experience a period of success or good fortune.
Give someone a run for their money: To provide strong competition.
Run a tab: To keep a record of purchases that will be paid for later.
Run afoul of (the law/rules): To come into conflict with laws or rules.
Run its course: To develop and come to a natural end.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of run from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
