sprint

1 of 2

verb

sprinted; sprinting; sprints
Synonyms of sprintnext

intransitive verb

: to run or go at top speed especially for a short distance
sprinter noun

sprint

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or an instance of sprinting
2
b
: a burst of speed

Examples of sprint in a Sentence

Verb The bicycle racers sprinted for the finish line. he sprinted off to class so as to avoid being late Noun He made a sprint for the finish line.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Olivia launches her second escape by bludgeoning one of her captors with a metal pipe, grabbing his gun, and sprinting toward the red prison door. Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 The one who sets the bone-crushing screen that springs the star, then immediately sprints to the rim for the lob, then turns around and blows up the other team’s pick-and-roll on the other end all in one sequence? Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026
Noun
General Daily Insight for June 27, 2026 Steady progress feels better than a sprint. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026 This guest embraces her sporty side with classic sneakers, a sleek black headband, and track pants that look ready for a sprint—though the black sweater vest keeps things firmly in fashion territory. Amanda Le, InStyle, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sprint

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English (Scots) sprenten to spring, leap, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect sprinta to jump, hop; akin to Old High German sprinzan to jump up

First Known Use

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprint was in 1836

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprint. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

sprint

1 of 2 verb
: to run at top speed especially for a short distance
sprinter noun

sprint

2 of 2 noun
1
: a short run at top speed
2
: a race over a short distance

More from Merriam-Webster on sprint

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster