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
While the agreement will not fundamentally change the Los Angeles Olympics competition, the sport can now use the brand that sparked the obstacle-running community to draw more fans.
—
Matt Moret, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to recommend a midrange sentence under Kansas guidelines, with the sentences running consecutively, according to local NBC affiliate KSNW.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026
Fredericks is on the city’s June 16 primary ballot, running unopposed to become chair of the local Republican Party in Ward 2, an area encompassing deep-blue neighborhoods like Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Logan Circle.
—Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 28 May 2026
The suspect ran from officers but was arrested after a brief pursuit, according to police.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Even so, the path to literary acknowledgement would not run straight.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
The 15 runs the Twins gave up matched their season high on the year.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
Dawicki says it’s diagnosed by looking at a patient’s history, doing a physical exam and running a blood test to check for antibodies.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 May 2026
What gets built once should run forever, like having the editor start on day one of production.
—Daren Smith, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
Matt Moret, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to recommend a midrange sentence under Kansas guidelines, with the sentences running consecutively, according to local NBC affiliate KSNW.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026
Fredericks is on the city’s June 16 primary ballot, running unopposed to become chair of the local Republican Party in Ward 2, an area encompassing deep-blue neighborhoods like Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Logan Circle.
—Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 28 May 2026
The suspect ran from officers but was arrested after a brief pursuit, according to police.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Even so, the path to literary acknowledgement would not run straight.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
The 15 runs the Twins gave up matched their season high on the year.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
Dawicki says it’s diagnosed by looking at a patient’s history, doing a physical exam and running a blood test to check for antibodies.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 May 2026
What gets built once should run forever, like having the editor start on day one of production.
—Daren Smith, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
Second baseman Alex Freeland grabbed it and dove to beat Castro to first base for the out, but Rumfield trotted home on the play.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
The traveling show has globe-trotted annually, most recently to New York and the likes of Hangzhou, China; Manchester, England, and Dakar, Senegal.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
While India’s media landscape has largely retreated in the face of the Hindu right’s fascism, Kandasamy is one of the few consistently at the barricades.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Travel stocks — Shares of airlines and cruise operators rose as oil prices retreated on Wednesday.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Bailey led all candidates citywide in direct campaign donations, raising nearly $30,000 during the period.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
Jackson Arrasin led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The victims ranged in age from 7 to 45 years old, Demlein said.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
-
Investigators say the children ranged in age from infants to 10 years old.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
She was hooked up to a hemodialysis machine where her blood flowed out of her body to be purified and was then transferred back into her body where it was reabsorbed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
That same evening, when the system was most strained, a crucial lifeline of about 8,000 MW of electricity flowed in from neighboring areas.—
Sufan Jiang,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
These two great rivals never raced each other again.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
After exchanging blows, the youngster raced on to a Djokovic drop shot before exquisitely returning with a faint backhand of his own, leaving his opponent with his hands on his knees in disbelief.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The back line has leaned heavily on young defenders such as Luca Bombino, Osvald Søe, Manu Duah and Oscar Verhoeven — and has needed Christopher McVey to be the adult in the room.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Ribeiro leaned into their on-screen chemistry as a family unit when creating a sizzle reel to get financing for the project.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Vaughn Grissom, who hit his first career grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs in LA’s 10-6 win Tuesday in the series opener, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout and walk.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
-
Rookie Travis Bazzana had two doubles and José Ramírez drove in a run for Cleveland, which was outscored 16-5 in the first two games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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