run-down
Americanverb
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to cause or allow (an engine, battery, etc) to lose power gradually and cease to function or (of an engine, battery, etc) to do this
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to decline or reduce in number or size
the firm ran down its sales force
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(tr, usually passive) to tire, sap the strength of, or exhaust
he was thoroughly run down and needed a holiday
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(tr) to criticize adversely; denigrate; decry
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(tr) to hit and knock to the ground with a moving vehicle
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nautical
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(tr) to collide with and cause to sink
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(intr, preposition) to navigate so as to move parallel to (a coast)
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(tr) to pursue and find or capture
to run down a fugitive
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(tr) to read swiftly or perfunctorily
he ran down their list of complaints
adjective
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tired; exhausted
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worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated
noun
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a brief review, résumé, or summary
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the process of a motor or mechanism coming gradually to a standstill after the source of power is removed
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a reduction in number or size
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Stop because of lack of power or force, as in The alarm clock finally ran down . [Mid-1700s]
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Make or be tired, cause to decline or be declined in health or vigor, as in His long illness ran him down, leaving him with no energy , or After that huge assignment his strength ran down . [First half of 1800s]
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Collide with and knock over, as in The speeding motorist ran down a pedestrian . [Second half of 1500s]
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Chase and capture, as in Police detectives ran down the suspects . [Second half of 1600s]
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Trace the source of, as in She ran down all the references at the library .
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Disparage, as in Don't run him down, he's a talented actor . [Second half of 1600s] Also see put down , def. 4.
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Also, run one's eyes over . Look over, review, as in Let's run down the membership list again and see if we can pick a delegate , or She ran her eyes over the crowd, looking for her husband .
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In baseball, tag out a runner between bases, as in We might have won but in the last inning they ran down two of our runners .
Etymology
Origin of run-down
First recorded in 1675–85; adj. use of verb phrase run down
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
AFP gives a run-down of where these data centres are being built, and why:
From Barron's
It's no easy task in the run-down former mining town, with those interested in fashion careers looking to places such as Glasgow, around an hour's drive away, or even further afield.
From Barron's
On either side lie two run-down empty tower blocks, replete with broken windows and walls blackened by fire damage.
From BBC
Then I would contact my chief scout, who would have been at our next opponent's game, for a quick run-down of what he had seen - their shape, patterns, strength, weaknesses and any injuries.
From BBC
Right by the exit, there are two gas stations, the run-down Olive Garden, and a small brick community center advertising after-school language classes.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
