подбега́ть

Подбега'ть describes approaching a specific target by running, with the focus on closing the last distance. It is neutral and vivid in tone, common in storytelling and everyday speech, and typically takes animate subjects (people, children, dogs). It can stand without an explicit goal if the context makes the target obvious.

As an imperfective, подбега'ть presents the action as ongoing or repeated; for a single completed dash up to someone/something use the perfective подбежа'ть. It is usually followed by к + dative (к кому'/чему'); do not use до here. Contrast with прибежа'ть, which highlights “arriving by running” at a place, whereas подбежа'ть zeroes in on running right up to a person/object. Avoid confusing it with прибега'ть к in its idiomatic sense “to resort to.”

Compared with подойти (“to walk/come up”), подбега'ть adds speed/urgency. Colloquial подскочи'ть suggests an even sharper, darting movement. Choose подбега'ть when the manner of approach - running - is the point, not just the fact of coming closer.