Use run over for a vehicle accident or risk of a vehicle hitting something. If there is no impact, use drive past, run past, or go over depending on the meaning.
Use run over for a vehicle accident or risk of a vehicle hitting something. If there is no impact, use drive past, run past, or go over depending on the meaning.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The car ran over to the cyclist. | The car ran over the cyclist. |
| He was runned over. | He was run over. |
| The truck ran above the cone. | The truck ran over the cone. |
| Run over means only run on foot. | Run over often involves a vehicle or another phrasal-verb sense. |
Use run over for a quick review, rehearsal, or explanation of details. Go over is a close alternative and often sounds a little more neutral.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Let's run over about the plan. | Let's run over the plan. |
| She ran over quickly the notes. | She quickly ran over the notes. |
| We ran the rules over them. | We ran over the rules with them. |
| Run over means always hit by car. | Run over can also mean review quickly. |
Use run over when an event continues past its time limit. For budgets or costs, go over budget or exceed is usually clearer.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The meeting ran over with fifteen minutes. | The meeting ran over by fifteen minutes. |
| The class ran over to the schedule. | The class ran over the schedule. |
| The talk ran above time. | The talk ran over time. |
| Run over time means arrive early. | Run over time means exceed the planned time. |
Use run over for contents spilling over an edge. For an ordinary escape through a hole or crack, leak is usually better.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The cup ran over coffee. | The coffee ran over the edge of the cup. |
| Water ran over from the sink full. | Water ran over from the full sink. |
| The pot ran over by water. | The pot ran over. |
| Run over always means vehicle accident. | Run over can also mean overflow. |
Use context and the object to choose the meaning: a car can run over someone, a team can run over a plan, a meeting can run over, and water can run over an edge.
Run over does not have only one meaning. Mistakes often come from assuming it always means a vehicle accident and missing the review, time, and overflow senses.
Combines run, one of English's oldest motion verbs, with over, a particle suggesting movement across, beyond, or over a surface. From physical movement came the vehicle, time-limit, overflow, and quick-review senses.
What does run over mean?
It can mean hit with a vehicle, review quickly, exceed a time limit, or overflow.
Does run over always mean a car accident?
No. That is one common meaning, but run over can also mean review, go past time, or spill over.
What does run over the plan mean?
It means quickly review or discuss the plan.
What does the meeting ran over mean?
It means the meeting continued longer than planned.
What is the passive form of run over?
The passive form is be run over, as in The dog was almost run over.
What is a synonym for run over?
Depending on the sense, synonyms include hit, review, go over, overrun, exceed, overflow, and spill over.
How do you use run over in a sentence?
For example: Let's run over the plan one more time.