What English word has over 645 meanings?

Lexicographers working on the Oxford English Dictionary have estimated that the verb form of “run” alone has around 645 distinct meanings.

Here is a list of some of the most common and varied meanings of “run” to illustrate its complexity across different contexts:

Common Meanings of “Run” (Verb and Noun)

Context	Meaning (Verb)	Example Sentence	Meaning (Noun)	Example Sentence
Movement	To move fast by foot.	“She will run a marathon next month.”	An act or spell of running.	“I go for a daily run.”
Operation	To function or operate (a machine).	“The engine runs on diesel.”	A sequence of operations.	“We need to complete a test run.”
Direction/Flow	To flow (a liquid).	“The river runs to the sea.”	A flow or trickle of liquid.	“The water made a little run down the wall.”
Management	To manage or direct (a business).	“He runs a successful restaurant.”	Control or management.	“She’s in the run of the business now.”
Candidate	To be a candidate for office.	“She plans to run for mayor.”	The act of competing in an election.	“His political run was unsuccessful.”
Duration	To continue in force or for a period.	“The movie runs for two hours.”	A continuous period.	“The play had a successful run.”
Colour/Fabric	To spread (color) or to unravel (stocking).	“Be careful, the colors might run.”	A ladder in a stocking/tights.	“I got a run in my tights.”
Erosion/Path	To extend in a particular direction.	“The fence runs along the property line.”	A track or path.	“There is a narrow ski run on the slope.”
State	To tend toward a particular condition.	“He’s been running a fever all day.”	A sudden demand or rush.	“There was a run on the banks.”
Transportation	To operate on a regular route.	“The bus runs every half hour.”	A scheduled trip.	“I need to make a grocery run.”

Major Semantic Categories of “Run” (Verb)

The definitions of “run” are broadly categorised by the type of motion or activity they describe.

Category	Primary Sense	Specific Definition	Example Usage
Locomotion	Rapid Movement	To move rapidly on foot, where both feet are momentarily off the ground.	“We need to run to catch the train.”
Fluidity	Flowing	To move or flow continuously in a stream (liquids, gases, electric currents).	“The water runs cold from this tap.”
Operation	Functioning	To be in operation or function; to work (engines, computers, programs).	“This old machine still runs perfectly.”
Management	Controlling	To manage, administer, or organize (a business, household, or campaign).	“She has been running the whole project.”
Extension	Lying/Stretching	To extend, stretch, or proceed in a specified direction or distance (a path, a fence, a line).	“The highway runs parallel to the coast.”
Duration	Continuing	To continue or be in force for a specific period of time (a play, contract, lease).	“The movie runs for almost three hours.”
Transportation	Regular Service	To operate a service on a regular route (a bus, train, or ferry).	“The commuter train runs every ten minutes.”
Tendency	To Be Inclined	To tend or approximate toward a specified state or condition (often abstract).	“His account of the event runs contrary to the official report.”
Physiological	Health State	To experience or exhibit a particular physical condition (e.g., a fever, a chill).	“The child has been running a high temperature.”
Destruction	Unraveling/Spreading	To unweave or unravel (fabric); to bleed or spread (color/dye).	“Be careful the dark dye doesn’t run.”
Printing/Press	To Print	To cause to be printed or published in a newspaper or other medium.	“The editor decided to run the story on the front page.”
Baseball	Scoring	To score a point or complete a base in baseball.	“The batter managed to run home for the winning score.”

Key Meanings of “Run” (Noun)

Category	Primary Sense	Specific Definition	Example Usage
Movement	A Spell of Running	An act or period of rapid movement on foot.	“He goes for a long run every morning.”
Sequence	A Continuous Series	A continuous sequence or spell of something (e.g., events, luck, cards).	“The casino has been having a losing run.”
Finance	Heavy Demand	A heavy, continuous, and urgent demand for something (e.g., money from a bank).	“There was a run on the banks after the collapse.”
Path/Route	A Track or Slope	A specific path, track, or slope used for a particular purpose (e.g., skiing, fishing).	“The beginner ski run was quite crowded.”
Schedule	A Trip or Journey	A regular or scheduled trip made by a vehicle.	“I need to make a quick run to the grocery store.”
Fabric	A Ladder	A line of unravelled stitches in knitted fabric, especially stockings or tights.	“She got a run in her new stockings.”
Baseball	A Score	The scoring unit in baseball (when a runner reaches home plate).	“The team scored three runs in the final inning.”