What does run mean?
Run is one of English’s most versatile everyday words. As a verb, it can mean move rapidly on foot, operate or manage something, make a substance flow, happen or recur, or score. As a noun, it can refer to a journey, a continuous stretch of events, a scoring unit, or a period of unusual success or failure. The word’s broad range reflects its long history: it descends from Old English rinnan and belongs to a family of Germanic verbs about running and flowing. In ordinary use, run often suggests speed or purposeful action, while phrases such as a run of luck and a home run show its more metaphorical uses. A reader should notice that context determines whether run describes physical motion, an activity, a business, a liquid, or a sequence of events. Its simplicity makes it both easy to use and surprisingly expressive.
To move swiftly on foot; operate or manage something; flow; recur; or score.
"They run the program every morning."
The verb is productive in both literal and figurative contexts, including “run a company,” “run a race,” and “run a risk.”
A journey, a continuous stretch of activity or events, a scoring unit, or a period of success or failure.
"The team went on a long run of victories."
The plural is runs, and the noun is countable in these senses.
The standard plural of the noun is runs.
"The film had several successful runs in theaters."
From Old English rinnan to today's “run,” one word has covered motion, management, flow, and luck for more than a thousand years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How run is actually used
Run is neutral in register and extremely common in both spoken and written English. Its meaning can shift substantially with context: it may describe physical movement, the operation of a device, the management of an organization, the flow of a liquid, or a recurring sequence of events.
Easily confused with run
Run is a verb and noun concerning movement or activity, while rung is a step or level in a ladder, staircase, or series.