Meaning

• To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them.

  "He was run down while crossing the main road."

• To criticize someone or an organisation, often unfairly.

  "Don't run yourself down so much!"

• To find something or someone after searching for a long time.

  "I finally managed to run down that report. I had filed it incorrectly."

• To lose power slowly. Used for a machine, battery, or other powered device.

  "If you don't switch off the car lights, you will run the battery down."

• To read quickly a list or other short text.

  "Running down the list of suggestions, I can see three we can discard immediately."

• To describe in the form of a rundown, a rough outline or summary.

• To reduce the size or stock levels of a business, often with a view to closure.

  "The board of directors have decided to run down the stocks held in storage prior to offering the company for sale."

• To decline in condition.

  "to run down in health"

• To chase till the object pursued is captured or exhausted.

  "to run down a stag"

• To run against and sink, as a vessel.

• To crush; to overthrow; to overbear.