speedrunning

noun

speed·​run·​ning ˈspēd-ˌrə-niŋ How to pronounce speedrunning (audio)
: timed playing of a video game in which the aim is to complete a game or portion of a game as quickly as possible
While "speedrunning" at its simplest is playing a game as quickly as you can, there are categories for each game with specific objectives. … I opted to collect all seven emeralds in Sonic 3—a tedious but ultimately satisfying task.Erica Lenti
a speedrunning event/challenge
the speedrunning community
speedrunner noun
plural speedrunners
… players devote their time to absorbing a game from start to finish. Completing it may take days or months. … Speedrunners, though, go through it time and time again, trying to beat it as fast as they can. Sarah Bergin
… while there are speedrun races, most speedrunners aren't in it to defeat an opponent; the opponent is a ticking clock. Keller Gordon

Examples of speedrunning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If traditional speedrunning is based around organization, then GeoGuessr is the antithesis. Will Backus, Wired, 16 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'speedrunning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

2007, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of speedrunning was in 2007

Dictionary Entries Near speedrunning

Cite this Entry

“Speedrunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speedrunning. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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