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
Jackson Lahmeyer, who was running as a Republican in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, advanced to the Republican primary on Tuesday, June 16, but dropped out on Wednesday, June 17, amid the scandal.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Rodriguez said the city needs more information about whether Los Angeles County, which runs city elections, would be capable of handling the change.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
The owner of a luxury clothing brand is accused of running a sweatshop in New York City, the Manhattan District Attorney said Wednesday.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in California, left the UK for North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and have since been involved in a long-running, public falling out with his family.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
This one runs from just outside the Basin down to the junction with Dorset Street.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
The Athletic says suspicions were raised when Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the governing body that runs the league in France, were tipped off about suspect betting patterns in Nice’s Ligue 1 fixture against Metz, involving wagers on Wahi to receive a yellow card.
—Austin Perry, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Film Festival runs June 12 – 21.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 17 June 2026
The protest group, called the Radical Reform Movement, is pushing for a greater share of mining revenue for Mongolians, a long-running demand in a nation where poverty persists despite the exploitation of its mineral riches.
—ABC News, 17 June 2026
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Rodriguez said the city needs more information about whether Los Angeles County, which runs city elections, would be capable of handling the change.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
The owner of a luxury clothing brand is accused of running a sweatshop in New York City, the Manhattan District Attorney said Wednesday.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in California, left the UK for North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and have since been involved in a long-running, public falling out with his family.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
This one runs from just outside the Basin down to the junction with Dorset Street.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
The Athletic says suspicions were raised when Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the governing body that runs the league in France, were tipped off about suspect betting patterns in Nice’s Ligue 1 fixture against Metz, involving wagers on Wahi to receive a yellow card.
—Austin Perry, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Film Festival runs June 12 – 21.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 17 June 2026
The protest group, called the Radical Reform Movement, is pushing for a greater share of mining revenue for Mongolians, a long-running demand in a nation where poverty persists despite the exploitation of its mineral riches.
—ABC News, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
About 100 yards to the right, a herd of caribou trotted past.—
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
-
Majestic horses trotted past the grazing hogs.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Oil prices retreated to around $80 a barrel on Friday, down from a peak of $118 in March when the war was at its height.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
-
The officer retreated and fired several shots, killing the dog and injuring its owner, who was trying to secure the animal, police said.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Some of the largest donations came from a political action committee led by House Speaker Mike Johnson.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Crow-Armstrong was picked off at first after completing the cycle in what was a key situation, as the Cubs only led the contest 2-1 at that point.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Yet, the share of retirees who work has never ranged higher than 34%.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
Within minutes, the men, who ranged in age from 30 to 60, began chatting among themselves.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Canapés and beverages flowed in abundance.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
-
The streams occasionally flowed together in a single, mighty river.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The tradition of dragon boat races was born from the story that people raced out in boats to search for the poet and threw rice into the river so fish would not eat his body.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
-
Across southeast Asia, governments have raced to facilitate deployment of electric vehicles and other fuel-efficiency measures.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Nearly a quarter of Canada’s population was born somewhere else and Herdman leaned into that diversity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
The best scent picks at Dollar Tree Dollar Tree has leaned into the body mist trend with a rotating lineup of SPA Luxury sprays that mimic the soft, layered fragrances popular on social media.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
During the off-season, a board member drove by Harris Roads Field, home of the Ypsilanti National Little League, and made an alarming discovery.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
Larnach drove the game’s second pitch 425 feet deep into the right-field seats.—
Staff,
Twin Cities,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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