running game

noun

variants or less commonly run game
plural running games also run games
American football
: offensive play in which the ball is snapped or handed to a player who attempts to run toward the end zone to score
Those scores came amid a game plan that focused on the running game and short passing game …Nick Pugliese
He also did significant damage in the running game, carrying seven times for 40 yards.Bob Brookover
… the Jaguars stayed with the running game, using a variety of direct snaps to backsAimee Ford Foster
… developing a good run game could unlock their offensive potential and should be the team's first priority.Cayden Steele
compare passing game

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of running game was in 1910

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Running game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/running%20game. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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