running down

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 running down Sanchez added her record-breaker in the 78th, running down a long ball sent forward by Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and out-running three Angel City defenders before burying her shot. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Well, Bournemouth, the three points were yours in Manchester on Sunday, with the clock running down. — Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 For decades, El Capitan has kicked off the high school football season with the Vaquero Run, with players running down Maine Avenue in Lakeside. — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Fittingly, the style comes in three colorways including Zebra Soapstone, a tan take on the trendy animal print, and Gilded Umber, a rich, chocolate brown adorned with gold-tone grommets running down each outer seam. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Two white stripes running down the sides of each leg create a casual look that’s effortlessly chic and pairs well with just about any shoes in your suitcase. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026 For four years now, Metro light rail trains have been running down the center of Crenshaw Boulevard, and for just as long, residents say a major promise has been broken. — Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 Not Bone, But Nerve That something is the ulnar nerve, one of the three major nerves running down the arm. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 According to documents from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, 44-year-old David Crosby II was running down a hallway where a group of three kids was playing tag on the Carnival Glory on July 26. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running down
  1. finding
  2. dismissing
  3. learning
  4. minimizing
  5. discovering
  6. talking down
  7. locating
  8. diminishing
Verb
  • It’s mainly centered on Billie, who is worried about an old Facebook post standing in the way of finding a job.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Elevating a home can take several months, and while this project would foot the entire bill for elevation, the pot of cash does not cover the costs of finding another place to live during construction.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of finding
Verb
  • William Roberson Anyone dismissing the Slingshot (in any form) on practicality grounds is missing the point by a light year or two - the Slingshot makes a Miata seem like a spacious minivan.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.
    — McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • The list of 500 schools was compiled by the magazine and data research firm Statista, Schools were given a score based on their student outcomes, learning environment and their attractiveness to students.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • How marketing teams are evaluating a provider Teams choosing a partner for this work are learning to ask pointed questions instead of accepting a buzzword.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of learning
Verb
  • What makes a roster a championship roster is scheming by accentuating the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The yearlong closure allowed the park district to address multiple infrastructure needs at once, minimizing the disruption that would have resulted from completing the work over several seasons, according to officials.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of minimizing
Verb
  • During the third, Veilleux called 911 shortly after discovering the damage.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
  • After discovering a book of paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe in a secondhand bookstore, Kusama wrote to the famous artist, asking for advice.
    — Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of discovering
Verb
  • Leadership training disputes The lawsuit alleges Petersen began subjecting Kennon to discriminatory treatment around January 2024, including talking down to her, ignoring her and questioning her judgment.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Any emphasis in his Jackson Hole address on his commitment to 2% inflation could help in talking down long bond yields.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of talking down
Verb
  • The system is designed to extend cyborg insects’ capabilities beyond simply locating survivors.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Minneapolis police report outlines the response of more than 150 first responders, detailing their movements and actions throughout the day, including locating the 23-year-old suspect, treating victims and clearing rooms inside the church.
    — Beret Leone, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of locating
Verb
  • But the war’s unintended consequences have spread far beyond the Middle East, affecting global security, diminishing America’s global standing, and potentially providing its adversaries with an opportunity to expand their influence.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As more money and attention flow into the space, the challenge is how to capitalize on the cultural cachet of the Grand Slams without diminishing what made that access desirable in the first place.
    — Jessica Schiffer, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishing

Browse Nearby Words

running dogs
running down
running hand
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Cite this Entry

“Running down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20down. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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