rundown 1 of 3

noun

ˈrən-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce rundown (audio)
Definition of rundownnext
as in summary
a short statement of the main points a rundown of the suspect's lengthy police record

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run-down

2 of 3

adjective

ˈrən-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce run-down (audio)
1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a run-down old house that really should be torn down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body I'm afraid I'll be staying home today as I'm feeling run-down

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run down

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to find
to come upon after searching, study, or effort finally ran down the answer after hours of research

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2
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rundown
Noun
Here is a rundown of the likely, or in some cases certain, 2026 legislative race winners in Broward and Palm Beach counties. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026 Welcome to Sportico’s transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships and products across the sports business industry. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026
Adjective
Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 The athletes were housed in run-down military barracks that had been used to house troops before being shipped overseas during World War II. — Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Through a cutting run down the right from Declan Rice, England had the ball in a dangerous position. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 The Kelce brothers once ran down their favorite fast-food burgers, and apparently, Burger King is tops. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rundown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rundown
  1. summary
  2. dilapidated
  3. sick
  4. find
  5. dismiss
  6. neglected
  7. poorly
  8. learn
Noun
  • Although the court livestreams the audio of oral arguments, that’s not the case for the summaries the justices give of their opinions.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The three liberal justices dissented as to the Equal Protection Clause, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor read a summary of her dissent from the bench.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of summary
Adjective
  • Sixteen children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said Wednesday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • The parents and grandparents of 16 children found living in a dilapidated house in southern Ohio were arraigned Wednesday on more than a dozen felony child endangerment charges, officials said.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • If a sick animal did end up at a slaughterhouse, the US Department of Agriculture’s thorough meat inspection system would very likely spot it, separate it from others and deem it US Suspect.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of sick
Verb
  • Gas stations across Russia are imposing limits on purchases, CNN’s analysis found, with fuel- tracking websites popping up to guide drivers to the best spots to fill up.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The incident happened less than a week after another child was found dead inside a car at a Plantation early learning center last Monday.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of find
Verb
  • In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of dismiss
Adjective
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • This fragmented model creates friction and quietly drains profitability through unbilled hours, margin erosion from poorly staffed projects and elevated turnover when top talent hits operational roadblocks.
    — DJ Paoni, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of poorly
Verb
  • Hawkins, 38, will end his 13-year run as Officer Kevin Atwater on the popular NBC show during the show's upcoming Season 14 in October, USA TODAY has learned.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Sensors read a physiological signal, feed it back in real time, and the user learns to nudge it in a calmer direction.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Definition of learn

Browse Nearby Words

rundlets
rundown
run-down
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Cite this Entry

“Rundown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rundown. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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