run-down

American  

[ruhn-doun] / ˈrʌnˈdaʊn /

adjective

1. fatigued; weary; exhausted.

2. in a state of poor health.

   He was in a run-down condition from months of overwork.

3. in neglected condition; fallen into disrepair.

   a run-down house.

   Synonyms:

   shabby, tacky, seedy

4. (of a spring-operated device) not running because it is unwound.

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run down British  

verb

1. to cause or allow (an engine, battery, etc) to lose power gradually and cease to function or (of an engine, battery, etc) to do this

2. to decline or reduce in number or size

   the firm ran down its sales force

3. (tr, usually passive) to tire, sap the strength of, or exhaust

   he was thoroughly run down and needed a holiday

4. (tr) to criticize adversely; denigrate; decry

5. (tr) to hit and knock to the ground with a moving vehicle

6. nautical

   1. (tr) to collide with and cause to sink

   2. (intr, preposition) to navigate so as to move parallel to (a coast)

7. (tr) to pursue and find or capture

   to run down a fugitive

8. (tr) to read swiftly or perfunctorily

   he ran down their list of complaints

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adjective

1. tired; exhausted

2. worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated

noun

1. a brief review, résumé, or summary

2. the process of a motor or mechanism coming gradually to a standstill after the source of power is removed

3. a reduction in number or size

run down Idioms  

1. Stop because of lack of power or force, as in The alarm clock finally ran down . [Mid-1700s]

2. Make or be tired, cause to decline or be declined in health or vigor, as in His long illness ran him down, leaving him with no energy , or After that huge assignment his strength ran down . [First half of 1800s]

3. Collide with and knock over, as in The speeding motorist ran down a pedestrian . [Second half of 1500s]

4. Chase and capture, as in Police detectives ran down the suspects . [Second half of 1600s]

5. Trace the source of, as in She ran down all the references at the library .

6. Disparage, as in Don't run him down, he's a talented actor . [Second half of 1600s] Also see put down , def. 4.

7. Also, run one's eyes over . Look over, review, as in Let's run down the membership list again and see if we can pick a delegate , or She ran her eyes over the crowd, looking for her husband .

8. In baseball, tag out a runner between bases, as in We might have won but in the last inning they ran down two of our runners .

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Etymology

Origin of run-down

First recorded in 1675–85; adj. use of verb phrase run down

Example Sentences

On either side lie two run-down empty tower blocks, replete with broken windows and walls blackened by fire damage.

From BBC

Then I would contact my chief scout, who would have been at our next opponent's game, for a quick run-down of what he had seen - their shape, patterns, strength, weaknesses and any injuries.

From BBC

Right by the exit, there are two gas stations, the run-down Olive Garden, and a small brick community center advertising after-school language classes.

From Literature

An unfinished light rail system mired in corruption allegations, a run-down central hospital which patients have described as "hell" and deepening inequality make it feel like a microcosm of the country.

From BBC

Upgrading the country’s run-down oil infrastructure is likely to take years and carries significant uncertainty, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• broken-down
• crumbling
• decrepit
• derelict
• deserted
• desolate
• dilapidated
• dingy
• neglected
• ramshackle
• rickety
• seedy
• tacky