ran

variants also chiefly dialectal run
Definition of rannext
past tense of run
1
2
3
as in led
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the road runs along the river for a while

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in ranged
to occur within a continuous range of variation the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
7
as in leaned
to show a liking or proneness (for something) unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

8
as in drove
to urge, push, or force onward they ran the horses hard in order to get to the ranch quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

9
as in operated
to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

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10
as in became
to eventually have as a state or quality the poor woman ran herself ragged trying to care for all those children

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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14
as in cost
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

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16

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ran After living in the City of Lights for more than a decade, the designer said he was drawn to its features, which informed his palette that runs from sky blues to Seine greens, via tones inspired by its typical stone buildings. — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026 Every action is decisive and cannot be reversed, just as the film runs ever forward through the projector. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Executives like Waldron say this should help the bank run more efficiently. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 Anna Frizzell and Seth Dolinsky run Rare Herb Farm & Provisions, growing culinary herbs and turning them into dips and spreads such as lovage tahini and basil chive pesto. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Argentine President Javier Milei, who in 2023 ran an outsider campaign against economic mismanagement, faces an uphill 2027 reelection bid as Argentines struggle with day-to-day economic challenges despite the country’s macroeconomic improvements. — Dan Restrepo, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026 The rest of the machine is solid for the price, with a capable Intel Core 5 processor that runs everyday programs well. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 Her departure clears a path for HBO veteran Casey Bloys to run the overall streaming programming operation. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026 The experience runs every Saturday and Sunday from September 19 through November 8 for optimal leaf-peeping. — Elleanna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • Just after the sun melted into the sea a deer trotted by, followed by its more nervous baby.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In the 10th, automatic runner Joey Ortiz advanced on a bunt and trotted home when Frelick bounced a single to right field off Grant Wolfram (6-4).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Treasury yields retreated from a two-decade high as traders pared bets on further Fed tightening after last month's rate hike.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The North Korean soldiers retreated after the South broadcast audio warnings and fired the shots and there were no clashes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This led mathematicians to suspect that the odd values were also likely irrational.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Kosovo has criticized the verdicts as unjust, maintaining that the KLA, which Thaci had led before entering politics, fought against Serbian oppression.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The subjects ranged from data science and AI to business management and public speaking.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Downstairs, the food options ranged from hot dogs and nachos to a plethora of baked goods and German-style plates.
    — ElleAnna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Material from both sides of this line flowed together to assemble the parent objects of Bennu, Ryugu and CI chondrites, with ice acting like glue to bond the fine dust particles together.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Soon after the war started, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which some 20% of the world’s oil flowed before the conflict, sending shock waves through the world economy.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Those gains came even as Treasury yields raced to highs not seen in years, with traders increasing bets of more Federal Reserve rate hikes due to persistent inflation.
    — Jenni Reid,Justina Lee,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Ben Grice took a first-down handoff and raced 88 yards for a touchdown and the Owls (1-3) led 7-0 after one quarter.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Halas leaned into the new job with zeal, using his earlier barnstorming connections to both recruit and coach players, while organizing a makeshift league called the American Professional Football Association.
    — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Behind her, a shotski — a prop for communal shot-taking popular on college campuses — leaned against a wall in the corner.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • That same day, another couple, navy veterans Iris and David Galindo, drove to Moonlight Ridge to pick up their first order of goat milk.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The government says the non-oil economy and job creation drove growth in the first half of this year.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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