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

About a dozen parents sprinted to get their children soon after authorities cleared the building. —Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026

The breathable mesh upper moves with your feet, and gives the perfect stretch needed to accommodate everything from exploring a new city to sprinting between airport gates. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026

Noun

Oksana Masters of Team USA celebrates after winning gold in the Para cross-country skiing sprint sitting final at the Paralympics, March 10, 2026, in Val di Fiemme, Italy. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

The kind of margin that exists mostly in slow-motion replays of sprints. —Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 11 Mar. 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