running

1 of 3

noun

run·ning ˈrə-niŋ

Synonyms of running next

: the action of running

: race entry 2

: physical condition for running

: management, care

running

2 of 3

adjective

: cursive, flowing

: fluid, runny

: incessant, continuous

a running battle

: made during the course of a process or activity

a running commentary on the game

: measured in a straight line

cost of lumber per running foot

: initiated or performed while running or with a running start

a running catch

a running jump

: of, relating to, or being a football play in which the ball is advanced by running rather than by passing

their running game was off

: designed for use by runners

a running track

running shoes

: fitted or trained for running rather than walking, trotting, or jumping

a running horse

running

3 of 3

adverb

: in succession : consecutively

three days running

Phrases

in the running

: competing in a contest

: having a chance to win a contest

out of the running

: not competing in a contest

: having no chance of winning a contest

Example Sentences

Noun He took up running for exercise. They go running every evening. Adjective Never add fuel to a running engine. The farmer had a running battle with pests and disease. The major television stations provided running commentaries on the election results. She kept a running total of their expenses on the trip. Adverb He has won the competition three times running. he won the championship five times running See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Arizona also remains in the running for one of the top seeds in the West even after being stunned by Arizona State last weekend on Desmond Cambridge Jr.’s 60-footer at the buzzer. —

Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023 In the running for the best foreign film are Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness, Jerzy Skolimowski’s EO, Tarik Saleh’s Cairo Conspiracy, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Spanish thriller The Beasts, and Lukas Dhont’s Close. —

Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2023 The Ludwig Göransson–produced single, written by Rihanna, Tems, Ryan Coogler, and Priscilla Renea, is in the running for Best Original Song. —

Zoe Guy, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2023 While no local girls team are in the running for the team title, both Brawley and Rancho Buena Vista have pushed a pair of wrestlers each into the quarterfinals. —

Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2023 Merriss and Mohammad are among a field of 20 in the running for best chef in the Great Lakes region. —

Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2023 One of Sain's Persians, Teddy, is in the running for a national title. —

Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 20 Feb. 2023 Yet, even though QB Desmond Ridder is coming off his rookie season, Atlanta – owner Arthur Blank had his team in the running for Deshaun Watson last year – will have a prime opportunity to reinvest at the position with a talent like Richardson. —

Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2023 Zabek’s 12 goals to start the year have helped keep his team in the running for the district title. —

Dallas News, 20 Feb. 2023

Adjective

Meanwhile, the non-running rodents continued to cower, still overwhelmed by stress. —

Kelyn Soong, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023 Kyle Shanahan runs a version of the West Coast offense with a physical running game. —

Dallas News, 1 Feb. 2023 One of Moore’s obvious tasks will be improving a running game that the Chargers struggled to establish throughout 2022. —

Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2023 Hey, Len: In the recent past, Berry made a major investment in the running game by signing Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to contract extensions. —

Terry Pluto, cleveland, 29 Jan. 2023 Another thing to keep an eye on is whether the Bengals can get the running game going with halfback Joe Mixon because the Chiefs have struggled defending the run this year. —

Baltimore Sun, 27 Jan. 2023 Cincinnati was out-gained in five of those games, but did out-gain the Bills by nearly 100 yards last week while dominating the running game in a 27-10 win. —

Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023 The most recent shuffling affected the running game more than all the uncertainty before it. —

Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 16 Jan. 2023 Look for Georgia to combat TCU's speed and aggressiveness by relying on the running game. —

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'running.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.