rundown
B2Neutral to informal in the 'summary' sense; slightly more formal in the 'neglected' sense.
Definition
Meaning
A brief summary or report of the main points of something.
A state of being in poor physical condition, neglected, or dilapidated; also, a detailed play-by-play description in sports broadcasting.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it primarily means a summary. As an adjective (often hyphenated: run-down), it describes something or someone in a state of disrepair or poor health. The sports commentary sense is a specific professional usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both noun and adjective forms are used in both varieties. The adjective form is more commonly hyphenated ('run-down') in British English, while 'rundown' as a single word for the noun is standard in both.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both. The 'summary' sense is very common in business/media contexts in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in the 'sports commentary' sense (e.g., 'a rundown of the play').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
give [someone] a rundown of/on [something]get a rundown on [something][something] is a rundown of [topic]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give me the rundown”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in meetings: 'Let me give you a quick rundown of the quarterly figures.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; may appear in presentations or lecture introductions as a summary of topics.
Everyday
Used to summarise plans, news, or events: 'Can you give me a rundown of what happened at the party?'
Technical
Specific use in baseball: a situation where a runner is caught between bases. Also in sports broadcasting.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager will run down the agenda at the start.
American English
- The coach ran down the list of injured players.
adjective
British English
- They bought a run-down cottage in the countryside to renovate.
American English
- He felt completely run-down after working three night shifts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Here is a rundown of today's weather.
- Can you give me a quick rundown of the plan for tomorrow?
- The report provides a detailed rundown of the company's financial performance over the last decade.
- After years of neglect, the historic theatre had become utterly run-down, its facade crumbling and its interior musty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'running down' a list of points with your finger – a RUNDOWN is a quick run through the main items.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A JOURNEY (going over/through the points). DEGRADATION IS DOWNWARD MOVEMENT (a run-down building).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'обзор' for the 'neglected' sense. The adjective 'run-down' translates as 'обветшалый', 'запущенный'. The noun 'rundown' (summary) is 'краткий обзор', 'сводка'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rundown' to mean a 'failure' or 'breakdown' (use 'breakdown' for mechanical failure). Confusing the noun (summary) with the adjective (dilapidated) in structure, e.g., 'He gave a run-down presentation' is ambiguous.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'rundown' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning 'summary', it is typically one word ('rundown'). As an adjective meaning 'dilapidated', it is often hyphenated ('run-down'), though one-word forms are also seen.
'Rundown' is slightly more informal and often implies a quick, oral, or point-by-point listing. 'Summary' is more general and can be more formal and comprehensive.
The phrasal verb 'to run down' (separate words) exists with meanings like 'to criticise', 'to reduce in size', or 'to hit with a vehicle'. The noun 'rundown' is not used as a verb by itself.
It can describe places (a run-down neighbourhood), objects (a run-down car), or people (feeling run-down, meaning tired and unwell). It precedes the noun or follows a linking verb like 'look' or 'feel'.