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

Johnson missed his first five shots, four of them 3-point tries, as the Sea Kings sprinted to the big, early lead. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026

Then Elliss sprinted to fall on the ball, got up and ran toward the nearest end zone in celebration, all while Herbert laid flat on his back and clutched his chest plate with both hands. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026

Noun

Campaigns for special elections are sprints, condensing what typically occurs over the better part of a year into no more than 56 days. —Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026

The champion of the 2025 season will be crowned during a four-week sprint to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026

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