runner

noun

run·​ner ˈrə-nər 

1

a

: one that runs : racer

b

: base runner

c

: ballcarrier

2

a

: messenger

b

: one that smuggles or distributes illicit or contraband goods (such as drugs, liquor, or guns)

3

: any of several large vigorous carangid fishes

4

a

: either of the longitudinal pieces on which a sled or sleigh slides

b

: the part of a skate that slides on the ice : blade

c

: the support of a drawer or a sliding door

5

a

: an elongated horizontal stem arising from the base of a plant

especially : stolon sense 1a

b

: a plant (such as a strawberry) that forms or spreads by means of runners

c

: a twining vine (such as a scarlet runner bean)

6

a

: a long narrow carpet for a hall or staircase

b

: a narrow decorative cloth cover for a table or dresser top

7

: an adjustable backstay running from mast to rail on a sail boat or ship

8

: a running shot in basketball

Synonyms

• smuggler

Examples of runner in a Sentence

The runner slid into third base.

sent a runner to tell them that all was ready for the feast

Recent Examples on the Web

His seventh-inning shot settled in the left-center bleachers and crushed the Brewers, who had finally chased him from the mound by getting two runners on in the top of the inning, only to go scoreless anyway when reliever Alex Vesia escaped the jam. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025

Former Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea is dangerous as both a passer and a runner for UNLV. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

After starters Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto breezed through the Milwaukee Brewers without so much as facing a hitter with a runner in scoring position in Games 1 and 2, Tyler Glasnow was put to the test early with a couple of challenging innings in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025

The Jasper runner model got a rose pink or mountain green colorway update, and is adorned with suede patchwork pegasus motifs and ponytail-like fringe details at the back, a nod to the upcoming year of the horse in the Chinese lunar calendar. —Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing runner

• base runner
• blockade-runner
• do a runner
• front-runner
• rainbow runner
• runner bean
• runner's high
• runner-up
• scarlet runner bean
• show runner
• stretch runner

Rhymes for runner

• brunner
• gunnar
• gunner
• tonner
• forerunner

Kids Definition

runner

noun

run·​ner ˈrən-ər 

1

a

: one that runs

b

: base runner

2

: messenger

3

: a thin piece or part on which something slides

4

a

: a slender creeping stem that arises from the base of a plant

especially : stolon

b

: a plant (as a strawberry) that forms or spreads by runners

5

a

: a long narrow carpet (as for a hall)

b

: a narrow decorative cloth cover for a table or dresser top