run on

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle on

Meanings

1

Continue without stopping, often longer than expected

Why “on”? Sliding forward along the surface. Motion that keeps going on and on.

The talk ran on for hours.
The talk continued for hours, longer than expected.
The meeting ran on past midnight.
The meeting continued past midnight, longer than expected.

Don't confuse with

run onrun off

Run on means continue without stopping, often longer than expected. Run off means leave running, often abruptly.

run onrun over

Run on means continue without stopping. Run over means continue beyond the planned end time.

Test yourself

The talk ran on for hours. What does it mean?

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