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
Miller, who has loaned his campaign $4 million so far, ran a 30-second campaign ad on NBC4 between the evening’s mayoral and gubernatorial debates.
—
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Gerard Moorer, 42, of Chicago, who served as Davis’ deputy district director and ran unsuccessfully for the statehouse himself in 2020, was charged in the nine-page indictment with three counts of wire fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026
Warren ran into trouble right away, serving up a two-out solo shot to Corey Seager in the first frame.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
When agents approached, Marx ran, then pulled a handgun from his waistband while fleeing, according to a federal affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
The pair of them started out together at Monza shortly after Adriano Galliani and Ariedo Braida left to run AC Milan for Silvio Berlusconi.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, who ran the breakout first season of Poker Face, have been named executive producers and showrunners of the hit crime drama starring Kaitlin Olson ahead of its upcoming third season.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 May 2026
That’s a little late to be running a corporation.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 6 May 2026
The 2023 report runs 16 pages and is mostly charts.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Gerard Moorer, 42, of Chicago, who served as Davis’ deputy district director and ran unsuccessfully for the statehouse himself in 2020, was charged in the nine-page indictment with three counts of wire fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026
Warren ran into trouble right away, serving up a two-out solo shot to Corey Seager in the first frame.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
When agents approached, Marx ran, then pulled a handgun from his waistband while fleeing, according to a federal affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
The pair of them started out together at Monza shortly after Adriano Galliani and Ariedo Braida left to run AC Milan for Silvio Berlusconi.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, who ran the breakout first season of Poker Face, have been named executive producers and showrunners of the hit crime drama starring Kaitlin Olson ahead of its upcoming third season.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 May 2026
That’s a little late to be running a corporation.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 6 May 2026
The 2023 report runs 16 pages and is mostly charts.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
When Smith’s throw in the dirt squirted away from shortstop Miguel Rojas, the winning run trotted in from third base.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The gray wolf howled, trotted back and forth, and gradually worked closer and closer to the nervous but fascinated caribou.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The teachers retreated, some taking cover in the room.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
Tatum briefly retreated toward the locker room during the third quarter of the Celtics’ 106-93 defeat at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday night.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Austin Williams led Lockport (18-5, 1-1) with seven kills.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, while CJ McCollum, who had shaped too much of this series already, was limited to six points on 3-for-10 shooting.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By providing infantry with protection against enemy arrows and ranged weapons, an army could advance without suffering heavy losses.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
-
Lorenzo ranged to her right and left to field groundballs for outs in the fifth.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Either way, in a major victory, traffic flowed much better every day this year than previous years.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Part of the inspiration flowed from the ultra-rich intellectual environment.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
But though Venter raced the public project to a standstill — the two groups announced a tie on the White House lawn — the result, in business terms, was murkier.—
Matthew Herper,
STAT,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Jorbit Vivas raced home from first after pitcher Freddy Peralta threw the ball wildly past first on Nasim Nuñez’s comebacker and Nuñez came home on Jacob Young’s single.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So, Brown leaned harder into OG Anunoby, who finished with 24 points and five rebounds, at center, choosing that look over Sochan.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Investors have leaned into optimism about an end to hostilities, but the swift rally also underscores the significance of the global AI rally.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
More damage came in the third, when Warren issued a leadoff walk before Ezequiel Duran drove an RBI double to the gap.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Daniels allegedly drove more than 150 mph while attempting to flee police in Commerce, Georgia.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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