run·down
ˈrən-ˌdau̇n 
1
: an item-by-item report or review : summary
2
: a play in baseball in which a base runner who is caught off base is chased by two or more opposing players who throw the ball from one to another in an attempt to tag the runner out
ran down; run down; running down; runs down
1
a
: to collide with and knock down
b
: to run against and cause to sink
2
a
: to chase to exhaustion or until captured
b
: to trace the source of
c
: to tag out (a base runner) between bases on a rundown
3
1
: to cease to operate because of the exhaustion of motive power
the clock ran down
2
: to decline in physical condition or vigor
Synonyms
Noun
- abstract
- breviary
- brief
- capsule
- conspectus
- digest
- encapsulation
- epitome
- inventory
- outline
- précis
- recap
- recapitulation
- résumé
- resume
- resumé
- roundup
- run-through
- sum
- sum-up
- summa
- summarization
- summary
- summing-up
- synopsis
- wrap-up
Adjective
- beat-up
- bombed-out
- dilapidated
- dog-eared
- down-at-the-heels
- down-at-heel
- down-at-the-heel
- down-at-heels
- dumpy
- grungy
- mangy
- mean
- miserable
- moth-eaten
- neglected
- ratty
- scrubby
- scruffy
- seedy
- shabby
- sleazy
- tacky
- tatterdemalion
- tatty
- threadbare
- timeworn
- tumbledown
Verb
Examples of rundown in a Sentence
Noun
They gave us a rundown on the main points of the news.
a rundown of our public services
He was caught in a rundown.
Adjective
a run-down old house that really should be torn down
I'm afraid I'll be staying home today as I'm feeling run-down
Verb
finally ran down the answer after hours of research
constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it
Recent Examples on the Web
Jaxson Kaplan-Rudolph, Detroit Free Press, 4 Sep. 2024
After getting booted from their original lodging and ditching their sketchy rundown motel, the Flossy Posse landed a free room at this historic hotel in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2024
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2024
Not in a cold kind of way, but just being run-down.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 15 Aug. 2024
Julia Teti, WWD, 4 Sep. 2024
Two hours later, neighbors heard a loud fight, followed by the sound of footsteps leaving the apartment and running down the hallway.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rundown 
Noun
Here's a rundown of how preregistration works: What is preregistration?
—Jaxson Kaplan-Rudolph, Detroit Free Press, 4 Sep. 2024
After getting booted from their original lodging and ditching their sketchy rundown motel, the Flossy Posse landed a free room at this historic hotel in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2024
Adjective
In the lulls between the lunchtime and late-night rushes, the space has the sort of uncanny near-emptiness that’s specific to places that are both overly sanitized and slightly run-down.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2024
Not in a cold kind of way, but just being run-down.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 15 Aug. 2024
Verb
The lace detailing included floral elements running down the bodice and skirt of the dress.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 4 Sep. 2024
Two hours later, neighbors heard a loud fight, followed by the sound of footsteps leaving the apartment and running down the hallway.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rundown
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rundown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to rundown
Dictionary Entries Near rundown
Cite this Entry
“Rundown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rundown. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rundown
1 of 3 noun
run·down
ˈrən-ˌdau̇n
: an item by item report : summary
run-down
2 of 3 adjectiveˈrən-ˈdau̇n
1
: being in poor condition
a run-down farm
2
: being in or indicating poor health
that run-down feeling
run down
3 of 3 verbˈrən-ˈdau̇n
1
: to collide with and knock down
2
a
: to chase until exhausted or captured
b
: to find by search : trace the source of
3
: to stop operating because of the exhaustion of an energy source
the battery ran down
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