: having a tendency to run: such as
a
: extremely or excessively soft and liquid
a runny dough
b
: secreting a thin flow of mucus
a runny nose
Examples of runny in a Sentence
The scrambled eggs are runny.
The pudding is runnier than I like it.
a little boy with a runny nose
My eyes felt itchy and runny.
Recent Examples on the Web
Symptoms can start similarly to a common cold – including fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes – which can make early detection challenging.
—
Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The ideal plain omelet is tender, light (almost fluffy), moist (but not runny), and naturally sweet.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery and red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms start, according to medical sources.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Measles symptoms, including high fevers, watery eyes, cough, rash and runny nose, can appear up to 21 days after initial exposure.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for runny
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Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The ideal plain omelet is tender, light (almost fluffy), moist (but not runny), and naturally sweet.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery and red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms start, according to medical sources.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Measles symptoms, including high fevers, watery eyes, cough, rash and runny nose, can appear up to 21 days after initial exposure.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for runny
Cite this Entry
“Runny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runny. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runny
adjective
run·ny
ˈrən-ē 
runnier; runniest
1
: too soft and liquid
the scrambled eggs are runny
2
: giving off a liquid
a runny nose
Medical Definition
runny
adjective
run·ny
ˈrən-ē
: secreting a thin flow of mucus
a runny nose
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