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

For months, Selznick had been looking everywhere for the perfect woman to play Scarlett O’Hara, with everyone from Lana Turner to Lucille Ball and Bette Davis at times in the running. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Also in the running was a third-party candidate, Raymond Haight, the standard bearer for both the Progressive Party and the Commonwealth Party, who positioned himself as a more moderate reformist alternative. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Rookie Josue De Paula is in the running to make the Dodgers’ postseason roster, manager Dave Roberts said. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Little by little as the day went on, the ranks of us still in the running grew thinner. — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 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