ran Meaning & Definition

Ran Definition (Verb)

1. to go faster than a walk
2. to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step
3. to move at a fast gallop
4. flee, retreat, escape

   When they heard the alarm ring, they ran.

5. to utilize a running play on offense
6. to go without restraint : move freely about at will

   let chickens run loose

7. to keep company : consort

   a ram running with ewes / ran with a wild crowd when he was young

8. to sail before the wind in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled
9. roam, rove

   running about with no jacket

10. to go rapidly or hurriedly : hasten

    run and fetch the doctor

11. to go in urgency or distress : resort

    runs to mother at every little difficulty

12. to make a quick, easy, or casual trip or visit

    ran over to borrow some sugar

13. to contend in a race

    running in a marathon

14. to enter into an election contest

    will run for mayor

15. to move on or as if on wheels : glide

    file drawers running on ball bearings

16. to roll forward rapidly or freely
17. to pass or slide freely

    a rope runs through the pulley

18. to ravel lengthwise

    tights guaranteed not to run

19. to sing or play a musical passage quickly

    run up the scale

20. to go back and forth : ply

    the train runs between New York and Washington / The buses are running late.

21. to migrate or move in considerable numbers
22. to move up or down a river to spawn
23. turn, rotate

    a swiftly running grindstone

24. function, operate

    the engine runs on gasoline / didn't know the camera was still running / had the computer up and running in no time / software that runs on her computer

25. to continue in force, operation, or production

    the contract has two more years to run / the play ran for six months

26. to have a specified duration, extent, or length

    The movie ran over two hours. / The manuscript runs nearly 500 pages.

27. to accompany as a valid obligation or right

    a right-of-way that runs with the land

28. to continue to accrue or become payable

    Interest on the loan runs from July 1.

29. to pass from one state to another

    run into debt

30. to flow rapidly or under pressure

    left the water running

31. melt, fuse
32. spread, dissolve

    colors guaranteed not to run

33. to discharge liquid (such as pus or serum)

    a running sore / My nose is running.

34. to develop rapidly in some specific direction
35. to throw out an elongated shoot of growth
36. to tend to produce or develop a specified quality or feature

    They run to big noses in that family.

37. to lie in or take a certain direction

    the boundary line runs east

38. to lie or extend in relation to something

    The road runs close to the shore. / There was a scratch running down the side of the car.

39. to go back : reach
40. to be in a certain form or expression

    the letter runs as follows

41. to be in a certain order of succession
42. to occur persistently

    musical talent runs in the family

43. to remain of a specified size, amount, character, or quality

    profits were running high

44. to have or maintain a relative position or condition (as in a race)

    ran a respectable third / running late

45. to exist or occur in a continuous range of variation

    shades run from white to dark gray

46. to spread or pass quickly from point to point

    chills ran up her spine

47. to be current : circulate

    speculation ran rife

48. to cause (an animal) to go rapidly : ride or drive fast

    ran the horse through the fields

49. to bring to a specified condition by or as if by running

    ran himself to death at work

50. to go in pursuit of : hunt, chase

    dogs that run deer

51. to follow the trail of backward : trace

    ran the rumor to its source

52. to enter, register, or enroll as a contestant in a race
53. to put forward as a candidate for office
54. to carry (the football) on a running play
55. to drive (livestock) especially to a grazing place
56. to provide pasturage for (livestock)
57. to keep or maintain (livestock) on or as if on pasturage
58. to pass over or traverse with speed
59. to run on or over in athletic competition

    runs the bases well / run the floor

60. to accomplish or perform by or as if by running

    ran a great race / run errands

61. to slip or go through or past

    run a blockade / run a red light

62. to travel on in a boat

    run the rapids

63. to cause to penetrate or enter : thrust

    ran a splinter into her toe

64. stitch
65. to cause to pass : lead

    run wires up from the basement

66. to cause to collide

    ran his head into a post

67. smuggle

    run guns

68. to cause to pass lightly or quickly over, along, or into something

    ran her eye down the list / ran his fingers through his hair

69. to cause or allow (a vehicle or a vessel) to go in a specified manner or direction

    ran the car off the road

70. to drive past or through illegally without stopping

    ran a red light

71. operate

    run a lathe

72. to put into operation

    ran the engine for a few minutes before driving / run a computer program

73. to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct

    run a store/hotel/restaurant/factory / a state/family run program / I can run my own life!

74. to do (a test or check) on

    doctors ran blood samples / police ran a security check

75. to employ or supervise in espionage

    run an agent

76. to be full of or drenched with

    streets ran blood

77. contain, assay
78. to cause to move or flow in a specified way or into a specified position

    run cards into a file

79. to cause to produce a flow (as of water)

    run the faucet

80. to prepare by running a faucet

    run a hot bath

81. to melt and cast in a mold

    run bullets

82. treat, process, refine

    run oil in a still / run a problem through a computer

83. to make oneself liable to : incur

    ran the risk of discovery

84. to mark out : draw

    run a contour line on a map

85. to permit (charges) to accumulate before settling

    run a tab at the bar

86. cost

    rooms that run from $200 to $450 a night

87. to produce by or as if by printing
88. to carry in a printed or broadcast medium

    every news outlet ran the story

89. to appear in print or a broadcast medium

    The show ran for five seasons.

90. to make (a series of counts) without a miss

    run 19 in an inning in billiards

91. to lead winning cards of (a suit) successively
92. to alter by addition

    ran his record to six wins and four losses

93. to make (a golf ball) roll forward after alighting
94. to eject (a player, coach, or manager) from a game

    Ron Luciano ran Weaver early in game one of a doubleheader in 1975, and then ran him again during the lineup meeting prior to the start of game two.