The difference between Run down and Run over

When used as verbs, run down means to hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them, whereas run over means to exceed the allotted time.


check bellow for the other definitions of Run down and Run over

  1. Run down as a verb (transitive):

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

    Examples:

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

  2. Run down as a verb (transitive):

    To criticize someone or an organisation, often unfairly.

    Examples:

    "Whatever the company says, the media is going to run them down."

    "My sister is always running me down in front of my friends."

    "Don't run yourself down so much!"

  3. Run down as a verb (transitive):

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

    Examples:

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

  4. Run down as a verb (transitive, intransitive):

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

    Examples:

    "You need to wind up the clock every day so that it doesn't run down."

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

  5. Run down as a verb (transitive):

    To read quickly a list or other short text.

    Examples:

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

  6. Run down as a verb (British, transitive):

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

    Examples:

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

  7. Run down as a verb:

    To decline in condition.

    Examples:

    "to run down in health"

  8. Run down as a verb (hunting):

    To chase till the object pursued is captured or exhausted.

    Examples:

    "to run down a stag"

  9. Run down as a verb (nautical):

    To run against and sink, as a vessel.

  10. Run down as a verb:

    To crush; to overthrow; to overbear.

  1. Run over as a verb (idiomatic):

    To exceed the allotted time.

    Examples:

    "The previous presentation ran over and ours had to start late."

  2. Run over as a verb:

    To cross by running.

    Examples:

    "The athletes must run over the bridge to reach the finish line."

  3. Run over as a verb (idiomatic):

    To drive over, causing injury or death.

    Examples:

    "Can you believe somebody would just run over a cat like that?"

  4. Run over as a verb (idiomatic):

    To describe briefly.

    Examples:

    "Before we start the project, let's just run over who is doing what."

  5. Run over as a verb (idiomatic):

    To rehearse quickly.

    Examples:

    "You'd better run over your statement before going on the platform."

  6. Run over as a verb:

    To overflow.

    Examples:

    "The bath water nearly ran over."

  7. Run over as a verb (rugby):

    To score a try.

  8. Run over as a verb (engineering):

    To have rotation in such direction that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; said of a crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating piece.

Compare words: