What are the definitions of “run down”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Hit a pedestrian with a vehicle.
The minicab RAN him DOWN on the zebra crossing.
- 2Lose energy or power.
You should only recharge the battery when it has fully RUN DOWN.
- 3Criticise, disparage.
They're always RUNNING me DOWN and I am sick and tired of it.
- 4Find the source or origin of something.
The police RAN DOWN all the leads they had and caught them.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “run down”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb run down is to lose energy or power. It can refer to a person feeling tired or a device losing its battery charge. For example, a person might feel run down after a long day, or a phone battery might run down after hours of use.
What are the different verb forms of “run down”?
| Root Verb | run down |
| Third Person Singular Present | runs down |
| Present Participle | running down |
| Simple Past | ran down |
| Past Participle | run down |
Example
My phone battery always runs down quickly when I use it a lot.
Example
His energy runs down quickly when he doesn't get enough sleep.
Example
The battery is running down because I forgot to charge it last night.
Example
She ran down the stairs and felt exhausted afterward.
Example
The old clock had run down and stopped working.
What kind of phrasal verb is “run down”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“run down” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The car ran down the pedestrian.
Example
The detective ran down the leads to find the criminal.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“run down” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The car ran down the pedestrian.
Example
The detective ran down the leads to find the criminal.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “run down”?
Run-down building
A building that is in poor condition, often due to neglect or age.
Example
The old factory is a run-down building that needs to be renovated.
Good things to know
Does “run down” have an informal or formal tone?
Run down is generally considered neutral in terms of formality. It can be used in both informal and formal contexts, depending on the specific situation. For example, it might be used informally when talking about feeling tired or a device losing power, while it could be used more formally when discussing a detective's investigation or a rundown building.
