run over

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"run-over" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“run over” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To exceed the allotted time.

Key facts for run over
PropertyValue
Headwordrun over
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “run over” sits in English frequency

run over falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for run over is 8 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for run over, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, so its spelling is easiest to reason about phoneme by phoneme, absent a documented history. The correct English form is run over, spelled R-U-N- -O-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To exceed the allotted time.
  2. 2
    To cross by running.
  3. 3
    To drive over, causing injury or death.
  4. 4
    To mistreat out of disregard.
  5. 5
    To describe briefly; to summarize or recapitulate; to go through or consider quickly.
  6. 6
    To rehearse quickly.
  7. 7
    To overflow.
  8. 8
    To score a try.
  9. 9
    To have rotation in such direction that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; said of a crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating piece.

This word in other languages

arrollar(Español)renverser(Français)überziehen(Deutsch)atropelar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "run over"?
"run over" is spelled R-U-N- -O-V-E-R.
What does "run over" mean?
As a verb, "run over" means: To exceed the allotted time.
What language does "run over" come from?
"run over" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “run over”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-U-N- -O-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list