run-down

[ruhn-doun]

adjective

1. fatigued; weary; exhausted.

2. in a state of poor health.

   He was in a run-down condition from months of overwork.

3. in neglected condition; fallen into disrepair.

   a run-down house.

   Synonyms: shabby, tacky, seedy

4. (of a spring-operated device) not running because it is unwound.

run down

verb

1. 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

2. to decline or reduce in number or size

   the firm ran down its sales force

3. (tr, usually passive) to tire, sap the strength of, or exhaust

   he was thoroughly run down and needed a holiday

4. (tr) to criticize adversely; denigrate; decry

5. (tr) to hit and knock to the ground with a moving vehicle

6. nautical

   1. (tr) to collide with and cause to sink

   2. (intr, preposition) to navigate so as to move parallel to (a coast)

7. (tr) to pursue and find or capture

   to run down a fugitive

8. (tr) to read swiftly or perfunctorily

   he ran down their list of complaints

adjective

1. tired; exhausted

2. worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated

noun

1. a brief review, résumé, or summary

2. the process of a motor or mechanism coming gradually to a standstill after the source of power is removed

3. a reduction in number or size

Word History and Origins

Origin of run down¹

First recorded in 1675–85; adj. use of verb phrase run down

Idioms and Phrases

Stop because of lack of power or force, as in The alarm clock finally ran down . [Mid-1700s]

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]

Collide with and knock over, as in The speeding motorist ran down a pedestrian . [Second half of 1500s]

Chase and capture, as in Police detectives ran down the suspects . [Second half of 1600s]

Trace the source of, as in She ran down all the references at the library .

Disparage, as in Don't run him down, he's a talented actor . [Second half of 1600s] Also see put down , def. 4.

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 .

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 .

Example Sentences

A trail of diesel running down Allington Street has caused police to ban smoking in the area over fears of a fire.

From BBC

“I’m running down two parallel paths,” the billionaire developer said.

From Los Angeles Times

However, they are so keen to join they are willing to run down the final year of their current deals to make it happen.

From BBC

"So I rang the club shop and somebody ran down to the field."

From BBC

"I didn't want to spook things. The minute I was cast I ran down to the bookshop."

From BBC

Related Words

• broken-down 
• crumbling www.thesaurus.com
• decrepit 
• derelict 
• deserted 
• desolate 
• dilapidated 
• dingy 
• neglected www.thesaurus.com
• ramshackle 
• rickety 
• seedy 
• tacky