1 B1 neutral
to move around from place to place quickly and actively
"The kids were running about in the garden all afternoon."
inseparable
run about
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
to move from place to place in a busy or playful way
In plain English
to go here and there a lot
What does "run about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to be very busy doing many small tasks in different places
"I've been running about all morning trying to get everything ready."
inseparable
Usage tip
Often used for children, busy daily movement, or errands. More common in British English than in American English.
Words that pair with "run about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
children town garden shops all day barefoot
How to conjugate "run about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
run about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
runs about
he/she/it
Past simple
ran about
yesterday
Past participle
run about
have + pp
-ing form
running about
continuous
Hear "run about" in the wild
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Other ways to say "run about"
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