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Meeting vocabularyphrasal verb · /rʌn θruː/

run through

In simple English

To go over items or steps quickly, usually to make sure nothing is missing. Common before releases, demos, or meetings.

Someone heard a teammate say "let's run through" something and wants to know what it means.

At a glanceCEFR B1–B2
Commonness
Versatility
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticNeutral
Region

Say it like this

Can we run through the agenda real quick?
Let me run through the changes before merging.
I'll run through the test cases one more time.
We should run through the deployment steps together.
Mind if I run through this with you?

Real examples

Standup

"Before we wrap up, let's run through the blockers one more time."

Slack message

"Can we run through the release checklist before EOD?"

GitHub PR

"I ran through the code changes and left a few comments."

Jira ticket

"Run through the acceptance criteria before marking this as done."

Retrospective

"Let's run through what went well this sprint."

Sprint planning

"Can we run through the backlog items for next sprint?"

Pair programming

"Let me run through the logic here so you can follow along."

Don't say this

Let's run over the checklist.
Let's run through the checklist.'Run over' means to hit something with a car or to exceed time. Use 'run through' for reviewing.
I will run through you the plan.
I will run through the plan with you.The object (the plan) comes right after 'run through'. Use 'with you' at the end.
Can you run through me the steps?
Can you run through the steps with me?The thing being reviewed comes directly after 'run through', not the person.

Other forms

base form

run through

"Let's run through the agenda."

past tense

ran through

"We ran through all the test cases yesterday."

present participle

running through

"I'm running through the requirements now."

past participle

run through

"Have you run through the checklist yet?"

noun form

run-through

"We need one more run-through before the demo."

Often used with

run through the checklistVery common before releases or launches.
run through the stepsUsed when explaining a process.
run through the codeReview code quickly before merging.
run through the agendaCommon at the start of meetings.
run through the planReview a plan before starting work.
quick run-throughA fast review, often before something important.

Similar words

go overVery similar meaning, slightly more casual.
reviewMore formal, often implies deeper analysis.
walk throughSlower and more detailed than 'run through'.
checkMore general, doesn't imply going through a sequence.
go throughSimilar meaning, can be more thorough.

Opposites

skipignoreoverlookdeep divedetailed review

Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Choose the most natural option

1. Before the demo, we should _____ the presentation.

Find the error

2. Can you run through me the deployment steps?

Complete the sentence

3. I _____ the test cases yesterday and found two bugs.

Rewrite naturally

4. Please review the checklist quickly before we launch.

More words

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "run through" in a standup this week?

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