: having a tendency to run: such as
a
: extremely or excessively soft and liquid
a runny dough
b
: secreting a thin flow of mucus
a runny nose
Examples of runny in a Sentence
The scrambled eggs are runny.
The pudding is runnier than I like it.
a little boy with a runny nose
My eyes felt itchy and runny.
Recent Examples on the Web
Most human cases are mild and include symptoms similar to human seasonal flu such as fever, fatigue, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.
—
Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Through March 18 Measles symptoms start with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, said CDPHE.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Early symptoms of measles occur 10 days to 2 weeks after exposure and may resemble a cold (cough, runny nose, and red eyes), usually with fever.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Measles is a highly infectious but preventable disease with symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, which are followed by a rash that starts several days later on the face and spreads.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for runny
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Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Through March 18 Measles symptoms start with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, said CDPHE.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Early symptoms of measles occur 10 days to 2 weeks after exposure and may resemble a cold (cough, runny nose, and red eyes), usually with fever.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Measles is a highly infectious but preventable disease with symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, which are followed by a rash that starts several days later on the face and spreads.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for runny
Cite this Entry
“Runny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runny. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runny
adjective
run·ny
ˈrən-ē 
runnier; runniest
1
: too soft and liquid
the scrambled eggs are runny
2
: giving off a liquid
a runny nose
Medical Definition
runny
adjective
run·ny
ˈrən-ē
: secreting a thin flow of mucus
a runny nose
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