had run down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had run down" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to mean the same thing as "ran out" or "expired". For example: My car battery had run down so I had to get a jump start from a friend.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

It was like a car whose battery had run down".

The Guardian

The shot clock, which had run down, was by rule reset to five seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

When Prime Minister Thatcher took office, the clock had run down on Britain's post-war experiment in socialism.

The Guardian

After his errands, the in-dash meter showed he had run down only about 27percentt of the car's power.

The New York Times

Before I could catch my breath, my brother and teammate, Jeff, had run down from the balcony and started hugging me.

The New York Times

The clock had run down to 45 seconds when Iraq's Jaffar Omran Salman scored to tie the game and break the hearts of an entire nation.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

He says successive governments, including Labour, have run down Remploy.

The Guardian

But what if the battery has run down in the meantime?

The Economist

"Austin has run down a few of my fly balls over the years," Jeter said.

The New York Times - Sports

We try to maintain some extra, but we have run down to zero".

The New York Times

He might have run down some at Keeneland in the Blue Grass.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the depletion of a resource, consider using "had run down" to convey a sense of completion. For example, "The company's profits had run down due to increased competition."

Common error

Avoid using "had run down" when a simple past tense like "ran down" is more appropriate. "Had run down" implies a past action completed before another point in the past. Use "ran down" for simple past actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had run down" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action of depletion or exhaustion that was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had run down" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English, primarily functioning as a past perfect verb phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it conveys the idea of something being depleted or exhausted before a specific point in the past. The phrase is often found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. Remember to use it when you need to emphasize that a depletion occurred before another past event. Consider alternatives like "had depleted" or "had exhausted" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had depleted

Replaces "run down" with a synonym indicating a reduction in quantity or resources.

had exhausted

Substitutes "run down" with a word suggesting complete consumption or use of something.

had diminished

Emphasizes a decrease or reduction in something, similar to "run down".

had dwindled

Suggests a gradual decrease or fading away, similar to the idea of something being "run down".

had waned

Implies a decline in power, influence, or extent, similar to a resource being "run down".

had petered out

Indicates a gradual ending or exhaustion, akin to something being "run down" to nothing.

had fizzled out

Suggests a loss of energy or enthusiasm, similar to the idea of something losing its effectiveness.

had bottomed out

Implies reaching the lowest point, suggesting a complete depletion or exhaustion.

had reached its end

Indicates that something has come to a conclusion or exhaustion point.

had come to nothing

Suggests a failure to achieve a result or a state of being completely used up.

FAQs

How can I use "had run down" in a sentence?

Use "had run down" to describe something that was depleted or exhausted before a specific point in the past. For instance, "By the time we arrived, their savings "had run down" completely".

What's a good alternative to "had run down"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "had run down" with alternatives like "had depleted", "had exhausted", or "had diminished".

Is it correct to say "has run down" instead of "had run down"?

The choice between "has run down" and "had run down" depends on the time frame. "Has run down" refers to something that's depleted up to the present, while "had run down" refers to depletion completed before a point in the past.

What does "had run down" imply about the timing of events?

"Had run down" indicates that the action of depleting or exhausting occurred and was completed before another action or time in the past. It emphasizes the sequence of events.