noun phrase · neutral

run-down building

/ˌrʌnˈdaʊn ˈbɪldɪŋ/run·DOWN BUILD·ing

Band 4-5speakingtask2

a building in poor condition because it has been neglected or badly maintained

Examples

a run-down building in the inner city

the council renovated several run-down buildings

avoid run-down buildings at night

Band 8 sentence

The local authority secured funding to restore several run-down buildings, transforming them into affordable community spaces.

Collocations

  • a run-down building
  • run-down area

Word family

run-down (adj) adjectiverun-downness noun (rare)

Common mistakes

a run down buildinga run-down building

there is a run down building behindthere is a run-down building behind

Say it for a higher band

5old building6bad building7+run-down building

Synonyms

dilapidated

Easily confused

dilapidated building

The dilapidated building was finally demolished last year.

Related words

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In Hometown & Housing

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