rundown
rundown — verb
1. to hit a person or animal with a vehicle so that they fall to the ground
to hit a person or animal with a vehicle so that they fall to the ground
A taxi nearly ran down a cyclist at the busy intersection.
passive: be/get run down by [vehicle]
The driver lost control and ran down a pedestrian on the sidewalk.
A deer was run down by a truck on the highway last night.
separable: run + object + down
The old woman was run down by a delivery scooter on the market street.
- run down a pedestrian
- run down a cyclist
- be/get run down by
- knock down
more general — can describe any collision, not just with a vehicle
- hit
simpler and broader; does not always mean the person falls
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase
run + noun phrase + down
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive voice ('be run down by'). The object can come between 'run' and 'down' (e.g., 'ran the dog down').
2. to crash into another boat or ship with enough force to make it sink
to crash into another boat or ship with enough force to make it sink
The fishing boat was run down by a cargo ship in thick fog.
passive: be run down by [vessel]
A patrol boat deliberately ran down the smugglers' speedboat near the coast.
The ferry nearly ran down a small sailboat that had strayed into its path.
nautical domain
The old tugboat was run down by an oil tanker during the storm.
- run down a boat
- run down a ship
- be run down by a vessel
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase
Usage Note
Almost exclusively used for collisions between water vessels. The subject is typically a larger ship.
3. to chase a person or animal until you catch them, often when they are exhausted
to chase a person or animal until you catch them, often when they are exhausted
The police ran down the thief after a chase through the park.
The hunters ran down a wounded deer in the forest before dark.
Security guards ran down the suspect before he could reach the airport exit.
chase + capture scenario
The dogs ran down the fox after a long chase across the fields.
- run down a thief
- run down a suspect
- run down prey
- pursue
more formal; does not always imply capture
- catch up with
focuses on reaching rather than the chase itself
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase
Usage Note
Often implies a long or exhausting pursuit. The object can come between 'run' and 'down' ('ran the fox down').
4. to locate a person or thing you have been looking for, often after considerable
to locate a person or thing you have been looking for, often after considerable effort
Ilan finally ran down an old jazz record he had been hunting for months.
The reporter ran down the source of the leaked documents after weeks of calls.
search-and-find scenario
Heloísa ran down the last piece of evidence just before the trial began.
separable: run + object + down
Esme ran down a rare first edition of the novel at a charity book sale.
- run down a source
- run down information
- run down evidence
- track down
very similar in meaning, slightly more active in tone
- locate
more formal; does not imply the effort involved
- dig up
more informal, used especially for information
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase
Usage Note
The most common meaning in everyday conversation. Often used in informal contexts. The object can be either a person, a document, or a piece of information.
5. in baseball, to put a runner out by touching them with the ball while they are t
in baseball, to put a runner out by touching them with the ball while they are trapped between two bases
The shortstop ran down the batter between second and third base.
baseball domain
The catcher ran down the runner trying to steal home plate in the ninth inning.
Jabari was run down by the first baseman after straying off the bag.
passive: be run down by [fielder]
Shirin ran down the player caught between first and second.
- run down a runner
- be run down between bases
- tag out
the general baseball term for touching a runner with the ball; 'rundown' specifies the between-bases situation
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase
Usage Note
A baseball-specific term. The runner is said to be 'caught in a rundown' (noun form) between two fielders who throw the ball back and forth to trap them.
6. to say unkind or critical things about someone or something, often when they are
to say unkind or critical things about someone or something, often when they are not present
Vivek's boss is always running down his work in front of the whole team.
informal register: always running down [someone]
Stop running down your sister — she did her best in a difficult situation.
The review ran down the restaurant's atmosphere without saying a word about the food.
Ingrid hates how some politicians run down their opponents instead of debating ideas.
- run down someone's work
- run down a colleague
- always running down [someone]
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase
Usage Note
Common in informal speech. Often implies unfair or repeated criticism. The opposite of 'praise' or 'talk up'.
Common Mistakes
7. to name or read items from a complete list, going through each one in order from
to name or read items from a complete list, going through each one in order from start to finish
Talia ran down the list of ingredients for the school bake sale.
transitive: run down + noun phrase (list of something)
Before the vote, the secretary ran down each candidate's name so everyone could hear.
Hao ran down the meeting agenda so that all the staff knew what to expect.
Devika ran down the points the manager wanted to cover during the training session.
- list
- agenda
- names
- items
- points
Grammar Patterns
rundown + noun phrase (list, agenda, names)
Usage Note
The object of this sense is typically a structured set of items: a list, agenda, names, or points. The tone is practical and slightly informal.
8. to stop operating because the source of energy inside has been fully used up
to stop operating because the source of energy inside has been fully used up
The clock above the fireplace ran down and nobody noticed until after dinner.
intransitive: used for clocks and mechanical devices
Lotte's wristwatch ran down during the long hike and she could not tell the time.
The grandfather clock in the hallway ran down because nobody wound it that week.
The kitchen timer ran down before the pasta was fully cooked.
- clock
- watch
- battery
- motor
- toy
- wind up
opposite action for mechanical clocks and watches
Usage Note
Commonly used for mechanical clocks, watches, and other devices that rely on a spring or battery. The subject is typically an object with a limited and depletable power source.
9. to gradually become weaker or less healthy over a period of time
to gradually become weaker or less healthy over a period of time
After weeks of working double shifts, Vinícius felt himself slowly running down.
intransitive: gradual loss of health or energy over time
The family noticed their old dog had been running down for several months.
Eshe watched her grandmother running down after the long winter illness kept her inside.
Tara noticed she was running down after months of poor sleep and bad eating habits.
- health
- strength
- energy
- body
- recover
to return to a healthy state
- strengthen
to gain back health and energy
Usage Note
Often used in progressive or perfect aspect ('is running down', 'has been running down') to describe a gradual process that continues over time. Frequently appears with possessive reflexive ('felt himself running down').
rundown — noun
1. a detailed list or report that covers all the important points of a subject, pre
a detailed list or report that covers all the important points of a subject, presented item by item so nothing is missed
Kemi gave the team a thorough rundown of the project's budget and timeline.
give + someone + a rundown of [topic]
Devika prepared a complete rundown of every expense from the last quarter.
Before the meeting, Rafael asked for a quick rundown on the client's concerns.
rundown on [topic]
Reuben printed a full rundown of the parts that needed replacement.
- thorough rundown
- complete rundown
- quick rundown
- full rundown
- rundown of expenses
- rundown on the situation
Grammar Patterns
a rundown of [topic]
give [someone] a rundown on [something]
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'give' or 'prepare' followed by a prepositional phrase with 'of' or 'on'.
Common Mistakes
2. the process of something shrinking, becoming less active, or falling below its f
the process of something shrinking, becoming less active, or falling below its former standard — for instance when a company cuts back its staff or a service loses its previous quality
The factory closure caused a steady rundown of the local workforce.
rundown of [workforce] — gradual reduction
Residents noticed a slow rundown in the quality of public services after the budget cuts.
Sari blamed the rundown of the hospital on years of underfunding.
rundown of [institution/organisation]
Amihan watched the rundown of the old neighbourhood as shops closed one by one.
- steady rundown
- slow rundown
- rundown of the workforce
- rundown in quality
- rundown of services
- decline
broader — can mean a fall in any area, not necessarily gradual or intentional
- cutback
more deliberate and financial in tone; a rundown can be passive or unintended
- deterioration
focuses on worsening quality; a rundown can also refer to shrinking size
- expansion
growth in size or scope — the opposite of a reduction
- improvement
rise in quality — the opposite of a decline in standards
Grammar Patterns
a rundown in [quality/activity]
a rundown of [workforce/staff]
Usage Note
Often paired with a possessive or 'the' + 'of' to indicate what is being reduced. Common in discussions of business or public services.
3. in baseball, a defensive play where a runner is trapped between two bases and fi
in baseball, a defensive play where a runner is trapped between two bases and fielders exchange the ball rapidly, trying to touch the runner with it to end the play
Christopher was caught in a rundown between first and second base and eventually tagged out.
baseball term: caught in a rundown between bases
The shortstop started the rundown with a quick throw, and the runner had no chance.
Iker escaped the rundown and slid safely back to second base.
Tunde watched the rundown from the dugout and cheered when his teammate escaped.
- caught in a rundown
- in a rundown
- start a rundown
- end a rundown
- escape the rundown
Grammar Patterns
in a rundown
caught in a rundown
start a rundown
Usage Note
Almost exclusively used in the context of baseball (primarily American). The action is also used as a verb phrase 'rundown' to describe the defensive play.
4. a short spoken or written summary that covers only the most important points of
a short spoken or written summary that covers only the most important points of something
Can you give me a quick rundown of what happened at the board meeting?
give + someone + a quick rundown of [topic]
Brandon provided a brief rundown of the main topics covered in the lecture.
A short rundown of the day's top stories is on the office board each morning.
Ziad gave the new intern a quick rundown of the filing system.
- quick rundown
- brief rundown
- short rundown
- give a rundown
Grammar Patterns
give [someone] a rundown of [topic]
a quick rundown
a brief rundown
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (DETAILED REPORT): this sense emphasises brevity and a quick overview rather than a thorough item-by-item account. Common in informal workplace conversation.
rundown — adjective
1. describing a building, vehicle, or piece of furniture that is in very bad physic
describing a building, vehicle, or piece of furniture that is in very bad physical condition because it has been neglected for a long time — for example, a house with broken windows, peeling paint, and a leaking roof.
The old hotel near the station looked rundown and had not been painted in years.
predicative use: looked rundown
Eleni rented a rundown apartment because it was all she could afford.
attributive use: a rundown apartment
The playground equipment was so rundown that the city council decided to replace it completely.
passive-like predicative: was so rundown
Vinícius bought a rundown fishing boat and spent months repairing it himself.
attributive: a rundown [noun]
- rundown building
- rundown neighbourhood
- rundown house
- look rundown
- become rundown
- dilapidated
more formal; describes things that are falling apart
- shabby
focuses on worn, faded appearance more than structural damage
- decrepit
suggests something is weak from age and near collapse
- well-maintained
regularly cared for
- brand-new
completely new
Usage Note
Predicative and attributive use are equally common for this sense. Typical subjects are buildings, vehicles, neighbourhoods, furniture, or equipment.
Common Mistakes
2. feeling extremely tired and lacking energy, usually after a period of hard work,
feeling extremely tired and lacking energy, usually after a period of hard work, stress, or illness — for example, feeling unable to concentrate after working long hours without a break.
After twelve-hour shifts all week, Ziad felt rundown and could barely keep his eyes open.
predicative after 'feel': felt rundown
Lan studied for exams every night and began to feel rundown and unable to sleep.
pattern: feel rundown + unable to [verb]
The night-shift nurses looked rundown, with dark circles under their eyes.
predicative after 'look': looked rundown
After three weeks of flu, Yara still felt rundown and had no energy at all.
after illness: felt rundown
- feel rundown
- look rundown
- get rundown
- become rundown
Usage Note
Almost always used predicatively (feel rundown, look rundown, become rundown). Refers to a temporary state of exhaustion rather than a chronic condition. Not used before a noun in formal writing, though attributive use (a rundown-looking person) occurs in informal speech.
Common Mistakes
3. describing a clock, watch, or mechanical toy that has stopped working because it
describing a clock, watch, or mechanical toy that has stopped working because its spring has completely relaxed and no longer provides power to move the parts.
The grandfather clock was rundown and silent for days before João wound it again.
predicative: was rundown
Harper wound the music box each morning, but by evening it was rundown and silent.
temporal pattern: by [time] it was rundown
His wind-up alarm clock stopped when it became rundown during the night.
predicative after 'became': became rundown
The mechanical toy rabbit stopped mid-jump as its spring ran down and went still.
- clock is rundown
- watch is rundown
- toy is rundown
Usage Note
Used predicatively only — 'the clock is rundown' not *'a rundown clock'. This sense is the most literal (derived from 'run' + 'down' = the spring has run down). Less common in everyday speech because battery-powered devices have replaced most mechanical clocks and toys.
Word family
- run downphrasal verbB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Rundown vs. summary vs. breakdown vs. outline vs. recap — all describe a condensed version of information, but differ in structure and formality. A rundown presents points in sequence, often orally ('give me a rundown'), and is moderately informal. A summary condenses the main idea without necessarily preserving the order of details; it works in formal and academic contexts. A breakdown separates a whole into parts for analysis, often numerical or categorical ('a breakdown of costs'). An outline focuses on the hierarchical structure (headings and subheadings) of a topic, typically for planning or organising. A recap (short for recapitulation) is the most informal and colloquial, used mainly in spoken conversation to quickly remind someone of key points ('a quick recap of the game'). Example: 'Before the meeting, Priya gave a rundown of the agenda items one by one, while Sunil asked for a breakdown of the budget figures.'
Common collocations
Etymology
rundown 由動詞片語 run down 合併而成。run 源自古英語 rinnan（跑），down 源自古英語 dūne（向下）。最早的動詞意義（16 世紀）是「追趕直到捕獲」，隨後衍生出「車輛撞倒」（18 世紀）、「批評」（19 世紀）等用法。形容詞「破舊的」來自 19 世紀末，指房屋因缺乏維護而逐漸衰敗。名詞「詳細報告」則源自 20 世紀初，由「快速瀏覽清單」的動詞義演變而來。棒球術語「夾殺」是 20 世紀中葉美國的用法。