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

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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

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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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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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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 Additionally, the party alleged Tupone ran as a Green candidate to siphon votes from Brooks. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026 The historic buildings once occupied by radio operators now house guests of Basecamp Explorer, which runs a range of Arctic adventures on Spitsbergen, the largest of Svalbard’s islands. Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 Odell has run as a candidate for the Haltom City council several times, most recently in the 2024 election, and also ran for mayor in 2021, according to county records. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026 That idea of jewelry as a vessel for reinterpretation and connection between different wearers also runs throughout the exhibit. Livia Caligor, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 Another is investigating dozens of incidents in which Teslas using partial self-driving software ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries. Bernard Condon, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026 David Blough was promoted from assistant quarterbacks coach to run the offense, while Daronte Jones was hired as the new defensive coordinator. Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The ‘Empowerment’ name has a double meaning, representing both the accessibility of the space and as a nod to SMUD and the power lines which run overhead, according to Barton. Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • In photos shared by both Hamilton Township Animal Shelter and Height of Hope, Nyla trotted along a red carpet and out the door of the shelter.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The next day, Magglio Ordóñez trotted right by him on his way around the bases after his pennant-clinching home run.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Though gas prices retreated somewhat in the late spring and early summer, the dip was short lived.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After a brief standoff with the buzzing, metal alien, the bobcat carefully retreated, sidestepping into an adjacent empty room.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The defense team is led by attorney Alan Jackson, who previously represented Nick Reiner in the murder case involving his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • My expert shopping adventure led me to 10 can’t-miss Labor Day discounts going for $20 or less.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Such claims ranged widely across geographical borders and political persuasions.
    Omer Bartov, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The voters, who ranged from 24 to 83, will either sit out the race or begrudgingly back Matsui to prevent Vang from winning the seat.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • For generations, Christian mission flowed primarily from Europe and North America to Africa.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • About 20 million barrels of Gulf oil flowed through the strait prior to the start of the war.
    Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In New York City, Special Agents Tom Armas and John Buckley -- who were at the New York Field Office at 7 World Trade Center for the annual UN General Assembly briefing -- raced into the North Tower.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The disclosure is expected to give the public a better understanding of how the city responded following the collapse of the World Trade Center as officials raced to restabilize Lower Manhattan and reopen the area.
    Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The fall 2026 collections leaned into this expression of individuality, showcasing an array of accents that encourage thoughtful experimentation.
    Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Shortly after the trade deadline, Tigers closer Kenley Jansen leaned back in his chair and talked about reasons for hope.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Middle East war and the resulting shipping disruption through the Strait of Hormuz drove up global commodity costs, further squeezing Beijing's own appetite for commodity imports.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Matson testified that Paul Robinson visited to the fraternity house two days after his son posted bail, then drove with Matson to retrieve the safe while his son packed at the fraternity house.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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