if a bus, train etc runs, it travels somewhere at regular times
if a feeling runs through you, you experience it
if a liquid runs somewhere, it flows there
if a machine or engine runs, or if you run it, it is working
if a piece of clothing or a colour runs, the colour spreads when you wash it
if a play, film, or television programme runs, it continues to be performed or shown
if a river runs somewhere, it flows there
if a story, argument etc runs in a particular way, this is what happens or what someone says
if a tap runs, or if you run it, water comes out of it
if a vehicle runs somewhere, it moves there because the driver is not controlling it properly
if an official agreement or document runs until a particular time, you can continue to use it until that date
if newspapers run an article, advertisement, or photograph, they print it
if something is running with a liquid, the liquid is flowing down it
if something such as a road or wall runs somewhere, it exists in that place
if something such as butter runs, it becomes liquid and spreads because it is warm
if something such as paint or ink runs, it spreads to where it should not be
if tights or stockings run, a hole in them becomes longer
to bring someone or something illegally into a country
to control and organize something such as a business, organization, or event
to fill a bath or other container with water from a tap
to grow in a particular direction
to have a particular thought
to have a race in a particular place or at a particular time
to move or rub something along something else
to move quickly to a place using your legs and feet
to move smoothly
to organize and provide something such as a service or course
to own and use a motor vehicle
to put something such as a wire or thread somewhere
to reach a particular amount or rate
to run a particular distance
to run in a race
to start or to use a computer program
to take someone somewhere in your car
to try to be elected to an official job or position
A cat ran across the road in front of me.
A chill ran through me (=I suddenly felt frightened).
A mountain range runs parallel to the western border.
Blood ran from a wound in her leg.
Crying had made her mascara run.
Dad offered to run me a bath.
Do the buses run on time?
Does your car run on petrol or diesel?
Don’t leave the car engine running.
Fred ran his fingers gently through her hair.
He was the man who ran Clinton’s election campaign.
He’s running the 100m.
His back was running with sweat.
His thoughts ran to the first time he had met Matilda.
How long did the film run for?
How many candidates are running?
How quickly can you run a mile?
I ran a sink full of cold water.
I ran the dishwasher even though it wasn’t full.
I ran to the door and opened it.
In a fit of jealousy, he ran a key down the side of Greg’s car.
Inflation is running at 3%.
Ivy runs up the walls of the house.
I’d love to run in the London Marathon.
I’ll run you there, it’s no trouble.
Jackson announced his intention to run for president.
John kindly offered to run me into town.
My laptop can run off the mains or a battery.
Our thoughts seem to run along the same lines (=we think the same).
Sue’s been running a mail-order business for ten years.
Tears were running down his face.
The Rhine runs into the North Sea.
The bus company runs a regular airport shuttle service.
The contract only has another couple of months to run.
The curtains run on these tracks.
The race will be run at 3 pm.
The shelter is run entirely by volunteers.
The software will run on any PC.
The text ran something like this: ‘Don’t mess with our business!’
The thought that she might be lying ran through my mind.
The train only runs at weekends.
The train was running twenty minutes late.
The truck ran down the hill and into a shop window.
There was a path running through the middle of the forest.
There will be three candidates running against her.
Ticket prices were running anywhere from £50 to £200.
Try running the program again and see if it works.
We know of several groups who are running guns into the country.
We ran for shelter as soon as the rain started.
You could run the cable behind the desk.
You’ll have to run if you want to catch the bus.
a soap opera that has been running for many years
a spreadsheet package that runs under Windows or Unix
expenses involved in running a car
run
runs
running
ran
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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