in the running

phrase

1

: competing in a contest

2

: having a chance to win a contest

Examples of in the running in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The offensive line blocked well in pass protection but struggled to get up to the linebackers in the running game, Drinkwitz said. — Pj Green september 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

The fruits of that outlay could be seen as Wrexham made light work of a Millwall side who were in the running for automatic promotion last season, right up until the final day. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

This year, the movies in the running for the Golden Lion prize are deep, dark and, politically charged. — Tanya Fevzi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Gwyn’s, however, who Richard considers to be his inferior, has jettisoned into success and is in the running for a huge literary prize. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for in the running

• overrunning
• bunning
• cunning
• dunning
• gunning
• punning
• shunning
• stunning
• sunning