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

When the shot rang out, Nathalie tried to reach her daughter, but the melee of panicked runners forced her out a side gate. —Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025

With runners on second and third, third baseman Matt Chapman made a diving stop of Andy Pages’ grounder and fired to Smith, who inadvertently did the splits. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025

Wandy Peralta relieved Marinaccio with one out and a runner on first base in the eighth inning and retired the next two batters. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025

Absent a terrible decision by Matt Williams to send that runner in the 9th when Pages was barely beyond second base, Pages once again did more harm than good—and that’s more than can be said of Teo, whose ABs grow more feeble by the night. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Sep. 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