“Run” can mean move quickly on foot, operate, manage, flow, or continue for a period of time. Its meaning depends on the words around it and the situation, so learning common patterns is more useful than looking for one definition that fits every sentence.
Movement and flow
The most familiar meaning is moving quickly on foot: Maya runs in the park every morning. The verb can also describe something moving or flowing, often without control: Water ran under the door during the storm. In this use, the subject is the thing that moves or flows.
Some related phrases have their own meanings. Run away means escape by running or leave to avoid someone or something: The dog ran away when it heard the fireworks. Run after means chase: I ran after the bus, but I missed it.
Operating and managing
When a machine or system runs, it is operating: The heating runs all night in winter. You can also run a machine or program, meaning you operate or start it: Could you run the printer for me? The software runs on older computers.
For people and organisations, run often means manage or be responsible for: Her parents run a small café. It can also mean organise an activity: Our class is running a food drive this month. The context tells you whether run means operate, manage, or organise.
Time, length, and availability
A film, meeting, or event can run for a period of time: The meeting ran for two hours. A show or service may run regularly or be available during certain times: The bus runs every 20 minutes.
A road, line, or story can run in a particular direction or over a distance: The trail runs along the river. You may also hear run from A to B to describe a span: The course runs from September to December.
If you run late, you are later than planned: I’m running late, so please start without me. This does not necessarily mean that you are running on foot.
Common phrases with run
In run out of, the supply becomes finished: We’ve run out of coffee. The subject is the person or group with no supply; the thing that has finished comes after of.
In run into someone, you meet them unexpectedly: I ran into my old teacher at the market. With an obstacle or problem, run into means encounter or experience it: The team ran into delays.
In run a fever, run means have a temperature: He’s home sick and running a fever. This is a common expression, especially in American English; have a fever is also natural.
Grammar to notice
The past forms are ran and run: She ran five kilometres yesterday. / She has run five kilometres this week. The past participle run is used with have or has. In many meanings, run does not take an object (The machine is running); in others, it does (They run a shop). Follow the pattern of the specific expression rather than assuming every use works the same way.
Quick check
Check your understanding
The café is very busy, so the owners it with help from their daughter.
The tap was left on, and water across the kitchen floor.
I wanted to make tea, but we had out of milk.
The bus service every half hour, including on Sundays.
Answers and explanations
run
Here, run means manage or operate a business.
ran
Ran describes water flowing; the past form of run is ran.
run
The present perfect uses have run; run out of means have no supply left.
runs
Runs means operates regularly. The singular subject service takes runs.
