1 B2 idiomatic informal
to hurry from place to place doing things for someone or taking care of them
"She spent the whole weekend running around after her elderly parents."
inseparable
run around after
B2 informal inseparable transitive
to spend a lot of time hurrying about to take care of someone
In plain English
to keep doing things for someone and getting tired from it
What does "run around after" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Often expresses irritation or exhaustion. Common in British English.
Words that pair with "run around after"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
children family guests husband boss everyone
How to conjugate "run around after"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
run around after
I/you/we/they
3rd person
runs around after
he/she/it
Past simple
ran around after
yesterday
Past participle
run around after
have + pp
-ing form
running around after
continuous
Hear "run around after" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "run around after" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "run around after"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.