ran
A1Neutral - used in all registers from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
The simple past tense of the verb 'run', indicating past movement at a speed faster than walking, often with both feet leaving the ground in each stride.
Beyond physical motion: can describe managing/operating (a business, test), a candidate competing in an election, a liquid flowing, a thought occurring, or a machine functioning. Often implies a directed, continuous, or hurried action in the past.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a verb form. Rarely, can be a noun in specialized contexts (e.g., computing, 'a test ran'). The core physical meaning is highly frequent; extended meanings (ran a company, ran for office) require contextual learning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major grammatical differences. Minor lexical preferences: AmE slightly prefers 'ran for office' vs. BrE 'stood for office', though both are used.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Extremely high and identical frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + ran (intransitive)Subject + ran + Object (transitive)Subject + ran + Adverbial (e.g., to the shop)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ran the show”
- “ran its course”
- “ran like clockwork”
- “ran rings around someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Past action of managing or operating (e.g., 'She ran the department efficiently').
Academic
Past execution of a process, test, or experiment (e.g., 'The simulation ran for 24 hours').
Everyday
Overwhelmingly for past physical movement (e.g., 'I ran to catch the bus').
Technical
Past operation of a machine, system, or program (e.g., 'The diagnostics ran successfully').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He ran to the post office before it closed.
- She ran the project for three years.
- The tap ran all night.
American English
- He ran for city council last fall.
- She ran the numbers on the proposal.
- The engine ran rough.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I ran to school yesterday.
- The dog ran in the park.
- She ran fast.
- He ran a small cafe after university.
- The water ran cold after a few minutes.
- A strange idea ran through my mind.
- The software update ran seamlessly in the background.
- She ran the gauntlet of criticism after the report was published.
- He ran for chair of the committee but was not elected.
- The currency speculation ran the risk of destabilising the entire market.
- Her patience ran thin after the third unexplained delay.
- The documentary ran the emotional gamut from joy to profound grief.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RAN rhymes with PAN. Imagine a frying PAN that RAN away because the stove was too hot.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION (The meeting ran over time). CONTROL IS HOLDING THE REINS (He ran the company). LIFE IS A JOURNEY (Her life ran a difficult course).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with Russian 'ран' (early/рано) – purely a spelling coincidence.
- Avoid using 'ran' for ongoing past action (was running); Russian imperfective past often maps to 'was/were + running'.
- The transitive meaning 'to manage' (ran a shop) is not obvious from the physical verb 'run' in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'runned' (hypercorrection).
- Confusing 'ran' (past) with 'run' (present/infinitive) in present perfect: 'I have ran' is incorrect; correct is 'I have run'.
- Overusing the physical meaning and missing metaphorical ones (ran a fever, ran a risk).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'ran' used in a metaphorical/idiomatic sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the core meaning is fast movement, it has many extended meanings like managing ('ran a shop'), operating ('ran the machine'), or flowing ('the water ran').
No. The past participle is 'run' (e.g., 'I have run', 'The tests were run'). Using 'ran' as a past participle ('I have ran') is a common mistake.
Very rarely in everyday language. In specific jargon (e.g., computing, baseball), you might find it ('a successful test ran', 'a home run'), but it's predominantly the past tense verb form.
Yes. 'Sprinted' is a more specific synonym, implying a short burst of running at maximum speed. 'Ran' is the general term and can cover any pace faster than a walk over any distance.