VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

run-down

adjective, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌrʌn ˈdaʊn/
US/ˌrʌn ˈdaʊn/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    In poor condition because it has not been looked after or repaired.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a run-down house, or The house is run-down.

    They bought a run-down cottage and spent a year fixing it.

    The neighbourhood looked run-down, with boarded windows.

    The old stadium was too run-down to host games.

  2. adjectiveafter a verb

    Tired and not very healthy, usually because of stress or overwork.

    Grammar: Usually follows feel, look or be: she felt run-down.

    Patterns

    • feel run-down
    • look run-down

    I have been feeling run-down since the exams started.

    Working two jobs left him tired and run-down.

    Run-down travellers often catch colds.

  3. nouncountableinformal

    A short summary giving the main points of something.

    Grammar: Usually written as one word, rundown: give someone a rundown.

    Patterns

    • a rundown of something
    • give someone a rundown

    Give me a quick rundown of tomorrow's schedule.

    The guide offered a rundown of the town's history.

    Here is a rundown of the main events.

Word forms

comparativemore run-down
superlativemost run-down
pluralrundowns

Common combinations

run-down area
They moved out of the run-down area.
run-down building
The run-down building was finally demolished.
feel run-down
I feel run-down and need a holiday.
look run-down
The hotel looked run-down from outside.
quick rundown
She gave us a quick rundown of the rules.

Synonyms and how they differ

dilapidated
Dilapidated is stronger and means falling to pieces, while run-down can just mean shabby.
shabby
Shabby describes worn appearance, while run-down also suggests lack of upkeep over time.
exhausted
Exhausted means completely tired now, while run-down means tired and weak over a period.
summary
Summary is more neutral and formal than the informal rundown.

Opposites

well-keptenergetic

Word family

run down verb
to hit with a vehicle, or to criticize, or to lose power
rundown noun
a summary of key points
rundown adjective
a variant spelling of run-down
down-at-heel adjective
looking poor and worn

Commonly confused: run-down or rundown?

run-down vs rundown

The one-word form is common for the noun summary and also appears for the adjective, so check how your style guide spells it.

Practice

After weeks of long hours and little sleep, Maya felt tired and ____ and caught a cold.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “run-down”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words