Verb / Noun A2 — Elementary /rʌn/

Run — Definition, Examples & Collocations

One of the most versatile words in English — from sprinting to running a company.

Quick Definition

Run (verb) — to move quickly on foot; to operate or manage something (a business, a system, an event). Run (noun) — an act of running; a continuous period of something happening.

What Does Run Mean?

The verb run comes from Old English rinnan and irnan, meaning to flow or to move swiftly, related to Old Norse rinna. These roots pointed to the idea of something in continuous, forward motion. By the Middle English period the word had settled into its modern form and broadened considerably beyond physical movement.

Today run is one of the most productive words in English, with over 70 recognised phrasal verb and idiom combinations. Its core physical sense — moving quickly on foot — is understood at A2 level, but the business and operational sense ("run a project", "run a department") is essential for B2 learners and above. The noun run adds further meanings: a morning jog, a sequence of performances, a period of good or bad fortune, or a route in skiing.

Because run is irregular (past simple: ran; past participle: run), it is a frequent source of errors for learners at every level — particularly the mistaken form runned.

Example Sentences

Sentence Level Usage note
I run to school every morning because it is good exercise. A2 physical movement, present simple habit
She ran out of time and could not finish the test. B1 phrasal verb: run out of = exhaust a supply
He runs his own business from home. B1 manage / operate a business
The project ran over budget by nearly twenty per cent. B2 run over = exceed a limit
The government's economic policy has been running counter to public opinion for months. C1 run counter to = oppose or contradict

Common Collocations

Collocation Example
run a business She has run a small bakery for ten years.
run a risk You run the risk of injury if you train without warming up.
run out of We ran out of milk, so I popped to the shops.
run late The train is running twenty minutes late.
go for a run I go for a run along the river every Sunday.
run errands He spent the morning running errands around town.
run a test The engineers ran several tests before launching the software.
run in the family Musical talent runs in their family — all four children play instruments.
run for office She announced she would run for office in the local elections.
a long run The musical had a long run in the West End — nearly three years.

Usage Notes

Key Points for Learners

  • Irregular forms. The past simple is ran and the past participle is run. Never use runned — it does not exist in standard English.
  • Verb vs noun. Both are very common. As a noun, run has a wide range of meanings depending on context: a physical run, a run of luck, a production run, a ski run. Context is everything.
  • Phrasal verbs. Run forms dozens of phrasal verbs — run out, run into, run away, run over, run through, run up. Learning these is essential for natural, fluent English.
  • Business English. In professional contexts, run is widely used to mean manage or operate: "run a team", "run a campaign", "run a pilot scheme". It is more informal than manage but completely acceptable in both spoken and written business English.
  • British English spelling note. In British English, the noun run does not change spelling in any of its senses. The verb's present participle is running (double n), following the standard rule of doubling the final consonant after a short vowel.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

Yesterday I runned five kilometres before breakfast.

Yesterday I ran five kilometres before breakfast. (ran is the correct past simple form)

She has runned the company since 2019.

She has run the company since 2019. (run is both the infinitive and the past participle)

We are running out from ideas.

We are running out of ideas. (the correct phrasal verb is run out of, not run out from)

Related Words

runner (noun) running (noun / adjective) runaway (noun / adjective) overrun (verb) outrun (verb) rerun (noun / verb) run-up (noun) run-down (adjective / noun)

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Frequently Asked Questions about “run”

What does the word run mean in English?
Run has two core meanings. As a verb it means to move quickly on foot ('She ran to catch the bus') or to operate and manage something ('He runs his own business'). As a noun it refers to the act of running ('I went for a morning run') or a continuous period of something ('a run of bad luck').
Is run a regular or irregular verb?
Run is an irregular verb. Its past simple form is 'ran' and its past participle is 'run'. For example: 'I ran five kilometres yesterday' (past simple) and 'I have run this route many times' (present perfect). Never write 'runned' — that is incorrect.
What is the difference between run and jog?
Run generally refers to moving quickly on foot at any speed. Jog refers specifically to running at a slow, steady pace, usually for exercise. You would say 'I jog in the park every morning' to suggest a relaxed pace, whereas 'She ran the 100 metres in under 11 seconds' implies speed.
How do you use run to mean manage?
When run means to manage or operate, it is followed directly by an object: 'She runs the marketing department', 'They run a small hotel in Cornwall', 'He runs his own consultancy'. This usage is common in business English and is more informal than manage or operate.
What are the most common collocations with run?
Common collocations include: run a business, run a risk, run out of (something), run late, run errands, run a test, go for a run, run in the family, run for office, and run a red light. Phrasal verbs such as run out, run into, run over, and run away are also very frequent in everyday English.
What does run out of mean?
'Run out of' is a phrasal verb meaning to use up all of a supply and have none left. For example: 'We have run out of milk', 'The battery ran out during the meeting'. It is extremely common in everyday British English and is used for both physical supplies and abstract resources such as time or patience.
What is the noun form of run?
The noun run can mean a period of running ('a five-kilometre run'), a sequence of events ('a run of good luck'), a period of a performance ('the play had a long run in the West End'), or a ski or bobsleigh route ('a ski run'). The plural is simply 'runs'.
What does it mean when something runs in the family?
The phrase 'runs in the family' means that a particular trait, ability, or condition is shared by many members of a family and is likely inherited. For example: 'Artistic talent runs in her family' or 'Heart disease runs in our family, so I watch what I eat.'
What is the difference between run and run away?
'Run' simply describes the act of moving quickly on foot. 'Run away' (phrasal verb) means to flee from a place or person, often to escape danger or a difficult situation: 'The child ran away from home', 'Don't run away from your problems'. The phrasal verb adds a sense of escape or avoidance.
How can I practise the word run in English?
Use LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise run and its phrasal verbs in context. The Flash Cards tool is useful for memorising collocations such as 'run a risk' and 'run out of'. Writing short sentences using different meanings of run — the physical action, the business sense, and phrasal verbs — is one of the best ways to make the word stick.