Rundown vs. Run Down
Cambridge documents both “rundown” and “run-down” in noun/adjective contexts, while “run down” remains the phrasal verb. Because the closed and hyphenated variants coexist in documented usage, this page does not impose one universal noun spelling.
Use “rundown” or the documented variant “run-down” for a brief summary in the dictionary contexts that allow those forms; “run-down” is also an adjective for something in poor condition. Use “run down” as the phrasal verb.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| brief summary or overview | rundown / run-down where documented | Use the documented noun styling; follow house style consistently. |
| adjective meaning in poor condition or exhausted | run-down | Use the hyphenated adjective in the documented sense. |
| phrasal verb such as criticize, collide with, or reduce a supply | run down | Use the two-word verb. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the expression functioning as a verb?
If yes: Use “run down.”
If no: If it is the adjective for poor condition, use “run-down”; for the summary noun, use the documented noun form and follow house style.
Caveat: Cambridge documents both “rundown” and “run-down” in relevant noun contexts; this guide therefore avoids claiming one universal noun spelling across all editorial styles.
Examples
Give me a quick rundown of the changes.
“Rundown” functions as the summary noun.
The building looked run-down.
The hyphenated form is the adjective meaning in poor condition.
The battery will run down if the device stays on.
The action is the two-word phrasal verb.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the documented noun or modifier form when naming a thing, result, event, or concept; use the spaced form when the words function as a verb.
Fast Test
If the expression can take ordinary verb tense or inflection in the sentence, the spaced verb form is usually the relevant choice.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge documents “run-down” and “rundown” as noun/adjective variants in relevant entries, while the phrasal verb is “run down.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- RUN SOMEONE/SOMETHING DOWN — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Run down phrasal verb plus documented run-down/rundown noun and adjective forms