variants
also chiefly dialectal run
1
as in trotted
to go at a pace faster than a walk
we ran all the way to the bus stop, but still missed the bus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreated
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
rather than run from a black bear, it's better to hold your ground and make lots of noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
5
as in flowed
to move in a stream
water running down the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly
run and get the nurse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in operated
to control the mechanical operation of
I know how to run that machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in melted
to go from a solid to a liquid state
her makeup started to run when she got in the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in managed
to look after and make decisions about
learning to run the family business
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in triggered
to cause to function
in olden days mills were run by flowing water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in cost
to have a price of
that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars
Synonyms & Similar Words
15
as in traveled
to come or be together as friends
he's been running with a bad crowd lately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in chased
to go after or on the track of
if that dog continues to run cars, he's going to get seriously hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ran
International visitors will undoubtedly flock to run the famous Rocky steps, before taking a bite of one of the city’s iconic cheesesteaks at Geno’s.
—
Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 May 2026
The desire for immortality is really a desire for liberation from the claustrophobia of our own minds, not a physiological discovery about how to keep our bodies running longer.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Treva Edwards, 61, founded and ran a church named Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost in the Newark suburb of Orange.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Other supporters traveled from elsewhere in the city and included Miki Yamashita, who runs the asiansforpratt Instagram page.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Qassem ran a money-transfer-and-currency-exchange franchise, and also an office that provided internet service to the town.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
The MindOne Pro runs Android 16 plus an additional minimalistic UI that features a suite of AI features.
—Ben Sin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Branding has also been reconfigured, as the oversized Three Stripes motif runs from its standard spot on the lateral side, across the top and over to the toe of the medial.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
There are six monochrome colors to choose from, and the good news for shoppers who find that their pants tend to run too short or too long is that each colorway has the option to choose between a 31- or 29-inch inseam.
—Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025
Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 May 2026
The desire for immortality is really a desire for liberation from the claustrophobia of our own minds, not a physiological discovery about how to keep our bodies running longer.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Treva Edwards, 61, founded and ran a church named Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost in the Newark suburb of Orange.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Other supporters traveled from elsewhere in the city and included Miki Yamashita, who runs the asiansforpratt Instagram page.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Qassem ran a money-transfer-and-currency-exchange franchise, and also an office that provided internet service to the town.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
The MindOne Pro runs Android 16 plus an additional minimalistic UI that features a suite of AI features.
—Ben Sin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Branding has also been reconfigured, as the oversized Three Stripes motif runs from its standard spot on the lateral side, across the top and over to the toe of the medial.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
There are six monochrome colors to choose from, and the good news for shoppers who find that their pants tend to run too short or too long is that each colorway has the option to choose between a 31- or 29-inch inseam.
—Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
The Household Cavalry, on dark horses and with brightly shining breastplates, trotted past, jingling like a cutlery drawer.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
So when Lozano trotted onto a pitch in Indio in a public preseason match involving San Diego FC, the serenading began.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
In fact, the company had filed papers twice before but then retreated from the idea as different private equity investors came forward to further fund the company.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
-
The crossover funds retreated when the market corrected.—
Harlem Capital,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors allege Saab led a yearslong scheme beginning around 2015 to defraud a humanitarian program intended to provide food to impoverished Venezuelans.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
That attention ultimately led Carabes to launch an online fundraising campaign, where hundreds of people contributed.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
About 1,000 children with intellectual disabilities from 26 states and Canada who ranged in age from 8 to 18 gathered at Soldier Field in Chicago to compete in 200 events.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
The underwater world informed also her approach to accessories, which ranged from mesh handbags studded with transparent beads mimicking drops of water to statement necklaces, bracelets and belts evoking octopus tentacles and small anchovies.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Fringe flowed from the sleeves and the dress’ skirt for a heavy effect that exuded the textural elements incorporated in Givenchy’s fall 2026 ready-to-wear showcase.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
-
Together, all of those developments deepened class and regional inequalities, as capital flowed away from workers in the industrial hinterland toward financial centers like New York.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Tony Stewart raced the double in 1999 and again in 2001, becoming the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles of the challenge.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
-
Some of the greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500 history have raced for the Penske, the most successful team owner in auto racing history.—
Bruce Martin,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The court said the congressional map enacted in Louisiana in 2021 leaned too heavily on race when redrawing the state's voting boundaries to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.—
Aaron Navarro,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
The pair also leaned into the rumors of their off-screen romance.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Qassem and Hanan drove from one hospital to another, trying to find Malak, while Ali stayed behind and kept looking for Zahra.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
-
In the Patriot League, Madison Adams went 3-for-3 with two triples and drove in two runs, backing Caroline Arruda’s 11 strikeouts as Marshfield blanked Plymouth North 11-0.—
Kristina Banahan,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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