ran Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
   run.
   
   • Don't run--you'll be out of breath
   • The children ran to the store
2. verb flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
   lam; run; head for the hills; hightail it; bunk; run away; take to the woods; scarper; escape; fly the coop; break away; scat; turn tail.
   
   • If you see this man, run!
   • The burglars escaped before the police showed up
3. verb stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point
   go; run; extend; lead; pass.
   
   • Service runs all the way to Cranbury
   • His knowledge doesn't go very far
   • My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
   • The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
4. verb direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
   operate; run.
   
   • She is running a relief operation in the Sudan
5. verb have a particular form
   go; run.
   
   • the story or argument runs as follows
   • as the saying goes...
6. verb move along, of liquids
   feed; flow; run; course.
   
   • Water flowed into the cave
   • the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
7. verb perform as expected when applied
   function; go; work; run; operate.
   
   • The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
   • Does this old car still run well?
   • This old radio doesn't work anymore
8. verb change or be different within limits
   range; run.
   
   • Estimates for the losses in the earthquake range as high as $2 billion
   • Interest rates run from 5 to 10 percent
   • The instruments ranged from tuba to cymbals
   • My students range from very bright to dull
9. verb run, stand, or compete for an office or a position
   run; campaign.
   
   • Who's running for treasurer this year?
10. verb cause to emit recorded audio or video
    play; run.
    
    • They ran the tapes over and over again
    • I'll play you my favorite record
    • He never tires of playing that video
11. verb move about freely and without restraint, or act as if running around in an uncontrolled way
    run.
    
    • who are these people running around in the building?
    • She runs around telling everyone of her troubles
    • let the dogs run free
12. verb have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
    run; incline; lean; be given; tend.
    
    • She tends to be nervous before her lectures
    • These dresses run small
    • He inclined to corpulence
13. verb be operating, running or functioning
    run.
    
    • The car is still running--turn it off!
14. verb change from one state to another
    run.
    
    • run amok
    • run rogue
    • run riot
15. verb cause to perform
    run.
    
    • run a subject
    • run a process
16. verb be affected by; be subjected to
    run.
    
    • run a temperature
    • run a risk
17. verb continue to exist
    run; die hard; prevail; endure; persist.
    
    • These stories die hard
    • The legend of Elvis endures
18. verb occur persistently
    run.
    
    • Musical talent runs in the family
19. verb carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
    execute; run.
    
    • Run the dishwasher
    • run a new program on the Mac
    • the computer executed the instruction
20. verb include as the content; broadcast or publicize
    carry; run.
    
    • We ran the ad three times
    • This paper carries a restaurant review
    • All major networks carried the press conference
21. verb carry out
    run.
    
    • run an errand
22. verb pass over, across, or through
    draw; run; guide; pass.
    
    • He ran his eyes over her body
    • She ran her fingers along the carved figurine
    • He drew her hair through his fingers
23. verb cause something to pass or lead somewhere
    run; lead.
    
    • Run the wire behind the cabinet
24. verb make without a miss
    run.
    
25. verb deal in illegally, such as arms or liquor
    black market; run.
    
26. verb cause an animal to move fast
    run.
    
    • run the dogs
27. verb be diffused
    run; bleed.
    
    • These dyes and colors are guaranteed not to run
28. verb sail before the wind
    run.
    
29. verb cover by running; run a certain distance
    run.
    
    • She ran 10 miles that day
30. verb extend or continue for a certain period of time
    run for; run.
    
    • The film runs 5 hours
31. verb set animals loose to graze
    run.
    
32. verb keep company
    run; consort.
    
    • the heifers run with the bulls to produce offspring
33. verb run with the ball; in such sports as football
    run.
    
34. verb travel rapidly, by any (unspecified) means
    run.
    
    • Run to the store!
    • She always runs to Italy, because she has a lover there
35. verb travel a route regularly
    run; ply.
    
    • Ships ply the waters near the coast
36. verb pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
    hunt down; hunt; run; track down.
    
    • Goering often hunted wild boars in Poland
    • The dogs are running deer
    • The Duke hunted in these woods
37. verb compete in a race
    race; run.
    
    • he is running the Marathon this year
    • let's race and see who gets there first
38. verb progress by being changed
    go; move; run.
    
    • The speech has to go through several more drafts
    • run through your presentation before the meeting
39. verb reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
    melt down; run; melt.
    
    • melt butter
    • melt down gold
    • The wax melted in the sun
40. verb come unraveled or undone as if by snagging
    ladder; run.
    
    • Her nylons were running
41. verb become undone
    unravel; run.
    
    • the sweater unraveled

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