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
Complimentary ski shuttles run every half hour to the slopes during the winter and transport guests to Main Street in the evenings, while the free city bus stops at the hotel on a frequent schedule.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors allege Solis ran a red light at the intersection and hit a 41-year-old Pleasant Hill woman who was crossing the street in a crosswalk.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2026
Dozens of candidates ran for five open seats in the Chicago area, where funding from groups supporting Israel and the cryptocurrency industry played an outsize role.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Englewood's deal runs from 2015 to 2035.
—Brian Maass, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
The team described it as the fastest full-size running humanoid robot built to date.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2026
Several seats were open, thanks to two voluntary exits and two board commissioners running for higher office.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Lucky for us, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden runs plant trials to see what will thrive in our region — and the results can take some of the guesswork out of gardening.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors allege Solis ran a red light at the intersection and hit a 41-year-old Pleasant Hill woman who was crossing the street in a crosswalk.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2026
Dozens of candidates ran for five open seats in the Chicago area, where funding from groups supporting Israel and the cryptocurrency industry played an outsize role.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Englewood's deal runs from 2015 to 2035.
—Brian Maass, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
The team described it as the fastest full-size running humanoid robot built to date.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2026
Several seats were open, thanks to two voluntary exits and two board commissioners running for higher office.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Lucky for us, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden runs plant trials to see what will thrive in our region — and the results can take some of the guesswork out of gardening.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
Chelly the German Shepherd trotted into the clearing and stood at attention, ears alert and straining on her leash.—
Liz Teitz,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Harper slowly trotted around the bases and took time at third to salute coach Dino Ebel.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For talking purposes Crane slid her prototype onto a table holding a number of others, and retreated to the radiator.—
thehustle.co,
thehustle.co,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Patrick retreated to his lodgings to pray.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The government planned to set up an emergency economic task force, led by Kim, to coordinate cross-ministerial efforts, the prime minister said at a press briefing, according to Yonhap News Agency.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Eventually, that work led Richard Jones to invest in property — and open Sub One.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dion Brown made nine of his 10 shots, while Robbie Avila ranged from rim stuffs to a 28-foot triple.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The longest wait at a TSA checkpoint ranged from 18 minutes to 35 minutes, Greg Chin, communications director, told the Miami Herald.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Great gameplan from a great coach, nice adjustments throughout, and the offense flowed so nicely all night.—
American-Statesman staff,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In Lahaina, where more than 100 people died in a 2023 fire, debris flowed down burn scars and onto the streets, one resident said.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Three off-duty lifeguards who were surfing nearby raced to help Eastman.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Adults would line up around the block for cupcakes that came out of vending machines; a company selling jumbo cupcakes with custard filling IPO’d at $13 a share, and people raced to buy a sheet of miniature tie-due cupcakes for $45.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some have argued that there is an apparent disconnect between the Christian messaging that Talarico has leaned so heavily into and his warmth toward what many view as a predatory industry.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Her new life went on like this for a while — a year, two years — until one night, Gomez was driving, leaned over to grab a pack of Life Savers that had rolled off the passenger seat, barreled off the road and over a ditch, and ended up with her car wedged between two trees.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In an explosive New York Times report out Wednesday, Huerta, who will turn 96 on April 10, told the newspaper that Chavez drove her to a secluded grape field in Delano, California, in 1966 and raped her in the vehicle.—
Ryan Carter,
Daily News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Then Suarez had his go-ahead double that drove in Sanoja.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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