sprint

1 of 2

verb

ˈsprint 

sprinted; sprinting; sprints

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

a

: dash sense 3b

b

: a burst of speed

Synonyms of sprint

Verb

• jog
• trot
• run
• race
• gallop
• 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

Verb

The Netflix model is to crawl, start walking, and then to sprint, not being afraid to change course quickly if things aren’t looking great. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026

My brother sprinting naked through the streets of a foreign city. — Josh Penn Soskin, Variety, 16 July 2026

Noun

Their cyclists then matched the exploits, Marcel Kittel picking up four stage victories, his sprint rival André Greipel one, while Tony Martin won the race’s only time trial and again from the break on stage nine. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 19 July 2026

In soccer, speed is more than just a fast-twitch sprint reflex. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing sprint

• sprint car
• wind sprint

Rhymes for sprint

• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• lint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• splint
• squint
• stint

Kids Definition

sprint

1 of 2 verb

ˈsprint 

: 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