# runs

/ˈɹənz/ (US) · /ɹˈʌnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/runs
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 3. stomach illness

noun · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for when you have to go to the toilet very often because you are sick.

For teachers: a slang term for diarrhea. Usually used with 'the' and treated as a plural noun.

- He couldn't go to the party because he had a bad case of the runs.
- Several guests at the wedding complained of the runs the following morning, leading to concerns about the hygiene of the catering service.

Usage: Always used with the definite article as 'the runs'.

Teaching tip: This is a very common but informal term; students should use 'diarrhea' in medical or formal contexts.

## Examples

- I think the spicy food gave me the runs.
- He had to cancel his presentation at the last minute because he woke up with a bad case of the runs.
- Travelers often experience the runs when their digestive systems encounter unfamiliar bacteria in local water supplies, a condition colloquially known by various regional nicknames.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.