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
Lila Battis, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2024
Here's a quick rundown of what's happening this weekend around Atlanta:
🤣 Drag queen performer Alyssa Edwards holds court for the Glitz and Giggles Tour at Buckhead Theatre.
—Kristal Dixon, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024
Tanisha Bhat, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2024
Her parents are there to plan a new resort for a Herr König (Stevens) and Gretchen gets a job at his current place, a run-down and retro mountain hotel where bizarre things happen to young women with a disturbing frequency.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2024
The best shooter of his generation ran down the court, beating his chest and screaming into the Parisian night.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rundown 
Noun
Here's a complete rundown of what to expect at The Dunes on the Waterfront.
—Lila Battis, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2024
Here's a quick rundown of what's happening this weekend around Atlanta:
🤣 Drag queen performer Alyssa Edwards holds court for the Glitz and Giggles Tour at Buckhead Theatre.
—Kristal Dixon, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024
Adjective
Manson was arrested and found hiding in a bathroom cabinet in a run-down house in Death Valley, Calif., two months later.
—Tanisha Bhat, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2024
Her parents are there to plan a new resort for a Herr König (Stevens) and Gretchen gets a job at his current place, a run-down and retro mountain hotel where bizarre things happen to young women with a disturbing frequency.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024
Verb
The angle of the roof directs the flow of rain and meltwater from ice or snow, allowing the water to run down toward the edges or eaves of the roof.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2024
The best shooter of his generation ran down the court, beating his chest and screaming into the Parisian night.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 10 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 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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