take a run at
idiom
US, informal
: to attempt to do or solve (something)
"I can't solve this math problem." "Let me take a run at it."
Examples of take a run at in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No potential competitor could take a run at us without access to the hits.
—
Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
The idea that this very historic newspaper that’s declined and the ordinary people who work there are going to take a run at restoring it — there is something about it that seems to hit the same emotional tone.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
Expect Toronto to take a run at signing her, but there’s probably seven other calls coming in, too.
5.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Most last-place teams don’t make the playoffs, let alone take a run at a ring.
—Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Pritzker was very active in the 2024 presidential election and could step aside to take a run at the Democratic nomination in 2028.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
EchoStar has been repositioning itself to try to take a run at the wireless business over the past several years, acquiring Spectrum as well as assets from Sprint that the company had to surrender as part of its merger with T-Mobile.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2024
Consider that the English Channel was a fifth of the width but still enough of a barrier to stop the Nazis from conquering the United Kingdom.
Japan and South Korea are the only other large economic prizes nearby, but Beijing is in no position to take a run at them militarily, either.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023
At one point, sources say the Cavs were planning to take a run at Jerami Grant.
—Chris Fedor, cleveland, 20 Nov. 2020
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Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
The idea that this very historic newspaper that’s declined and the ordinary people who work there are going to take a run at restoring it — there is something about it that seems to hit the same emotional tone.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
Expect Toronto to take a run at signing her, but there’s probably seven other calls coming in, too.
5.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Most last-place teams don’t make the playoffs, let alone take a run at a ring.
—Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Pritzker was very active in the 2024 presidential election and could step aside to take a run at the Democratic nomination in 2028.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
EchoStar has been repositioning itself to try to take a run at the wireless business over the past several years, acquiring Spectrum as well as assets from Sprint that the company had to surrender as part of its merger with T-Mobile.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2024
Consider that the English Channel was a fifth of the width but still enough of a barrier to stop the Nazis from conquering the United Kingdom.
Japan and South Korea are the only other large economic prizes nearby, but Beijing is in no position to take a run at them militarily, either.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023
At one point, sources say the Cavs were planning to take a run at Jerami Grant.
—Chris Fedor, cleveland, 20 Nov. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Take a run at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20run%20at. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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