1
as in finding
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
finally ran down the answer after hours of research
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of running down
Witness shares video of police response A witness shared a video with CBS News Baltimore, showing officers running down Wilkens Avenue.
—
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Concrete-block walls with pipes running down the tops of walls, piles of concrete, junk on top of junk.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
The suit also featured a sleek black strap running down her torso, with the top wrapping around her bodice.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 13 May 2026
Work from the top down to prevent loose grime and dirty water from running down onto clean siding tiles.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Giacomo, a 50-1 shot, wins the Kentucky Derby, running down a game Afleet Alex in the final strides and generating a huge payoff.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
This dress included floral embroidery around the collar, neckline, cuffs and running down the front placket of the design.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
In February 2025, Hathaway and Hartnett were spotted filming Verity in New York City, photographed running down the street while wearing semi-formal attire and holding hands.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Tuesday’s game ended with defensive replacement Will Benson, acquired in exchange for Hajjar ahead of the 2023 season, running down a long drive by San Francisco’s Daniel Susac to secure the victory.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Concrete-block walls with pipes running down the tops of walls, piles of concrete, junk on top of junk.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
The suit also featured a sleek black strap running down her torso, with the top wrapping around her bodice.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 13 May 2026
Work from the top down to prevent loose grime and dirty water from running down onto clean siding tiles.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Giacomo, a 50-1 shot, wins the Kentucky Derby, running down a game Afleet Alex in the final strides and generating a huge payoff.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
This dress included floral embroidery around the collar, neckline, cuffs and running down the front placket of the design.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
In February 2025, Hathaway and Hartnett were spotted filming Verity in New York City, photographed running down the street while wearing semi-formal attire and holding hands.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Tuesday’s game ended with defensive replacement Will Benson, acquired in exchange for Hajjar ahead of the 2023 season, running down a long drive by San Francisco’s Daniel Susac to secure the victory.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running down
Verb
-
For Yeon, the decision to revisit zombies wasn’t about retreading familiar ground but finding the right vessel for exploring modern anxieties.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
The next step is finding a place to meet in the middle and clarify what’s unsaid or unclear on both sides.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Verb
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However, not all analysts are dismissing that news that quickly.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
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Fox also erred in not dismissing attempts by Magness and Lee Watson to intervene in the lawsuit, the attorney general’s office claimed, saying neither has standing to take part in the litigation, since they aren’t named as defendants in the case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Work with that element of chance because learning to enjoy embracing—working with it—is fun and fun isn’t logical, and logic isn’t always your ally in that initial stage of creation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Torn between toiling away at farmwork, his corrective swimming lessons, and learning music from a local organist — the elderly Michel (Alexandre Astier, Clichy’s former directing partner), who shows him more kindness than most — Christophe’s world gradually widens.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Verb
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But in our experience, many businesses benefit from a middle-ground strategy that maximizes compatibility while minimizing disruption.—
Thomas Berndorfer,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
These bachelor groups allow non-breeding males to live social lives while minimizing competition, the zoo says.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Cannes, after all, has always prided itself on discovering and nurturing new talent — and pushing the envelope of what cinema both is and can be.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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For Birmingham, that means discovering what Alabama’s second-largest city really offers—especially its quietly stellar food scene that’s been racking up James Beard nominations.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Politicos everywhere are talking down Johnson’s chances.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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During his remarks, Beshear accused Vance, whose memoir explores issues such as poverty and the lack of opportunity in Appalachia and the Rust Belt, of talking down to the people of Kentucky.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Section Two of the Voting Rights Act was written to prevent diminishing the voting power of racial minorities by packing them into one district or spreading them out across many districts.—
Sarah Clifton,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies have kept many of the same players on the roster since the team’s 2022 run all the way to the World Series, though the returns have been diminishing.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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And so there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
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For assistance locating the SSID, contact the student’s school directly.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Running down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20down. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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