sprint

1 of 2

verb

ˈsprint 

sprinted; sprinting; sprints

intransitive verb

: to run or go at top speed especially for a short distance

sprinter noun

sprint

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or an instance of sprinting

2

a

: dash sense 3b

b

: a burst of speed

Synonyms of sprint

Verb

• jog
• trot
• run
• race
• gallop
• speed

Examples of sprint in a Sentence

Verb

The bicycle racers sprinted for the finish line.

he sprinted off to class so as to avoid being late

Noun

He made a sprint for the finish line.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

So a tired group of Ravens, who had just sprinted back and forth in the end zone, had to trudge back in the huddle and try to get another stop. —Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

To spam post-ups every game in November would be to sprint the first half-mile of a marathon. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025

Noun

Generally ticked off at his situation, Ben navigates sewers, gets blown up a few times and sprints a lot in his quest to stay alive, occasionally doing anarchic selfie-cam videos that grow more unhinged. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025

Remember that working in short, iterative sprints is best to help control both the scope and resources required. —Kathleen Walch, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English (Scots) sprenten to spring, leap, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect sprinta to jump, hop; akin to Old High German sprinzan to jump up

First Known Use

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sprint

• sprint car
• wind sprint

Rhymes for sprint

• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• lint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• splint
• squint
• stint

Kids Definition

sprint

1 of 2 verb

ˈsprint 

: to run at top speed especially for a short distance

sprinter noun

sprint

2 of 2 noun

1

: a short run at top speed

2

: a race over a short distance