ran

variants also chiefly dialectal run
Definition of rannext
past tense of run
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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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as in cost
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

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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 Birds chirp from atop the towering oak trees, and the peacefully running fountains set the tone for a serenity that'll carry through your weekend. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026 Payton wanted his starters to see the field for roughly 15 plays in the preseason opener, but the Falcons ran only 13 plays on their first four possessions combined. Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 De Lutiis scored himself in the 58th, backing up in support at the perfect time after an Australian attacking raid that started with flyhalf Carter Gordon breaking the defensive line and running 30 meters toward the right corner flag. ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 Wilson Tamfuh, a public and international law professor at the University of Dschang in West Cameroon, said the country has institutions that can keep the government running when the president delegates responsibilities. Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 Cox, working like a shoestring Peckinpah, sets up Strindler against the crooks who run the border town — the corrupt mayor and sheriff and a wealthy rancher. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Sabio previously ran for Fairfax County School Board before launching his congressional campaign. Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026 Those systems could train and run large language models and other generative AI applications. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 But Thursday was his first time running it live alongside the actor-musicians. Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • Earlier this month, bulldozers were videoed uprooting trees and shoveling dirt as wild animals trotted by.
    Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • This time, Maye tossed an interception downfield, and trotted off toward the sideline in defeat.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • While that unfolded, Justin Crawford retreated to the Phillies dugout.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • When the Hills couple faced financial issues after the show ended, the two retreated to Pratt’s parents’ beach home in Carpinteria, California, to get back to regular life.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Detroit quarterback Joshua Dobbs, signed as a free agent on Monday, led the Lions to field goals on two of his three series.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This news arrives two weeks after the club released their new away shirt, with the design process led by minority owner and former NFL superstar JJ Watt.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Participants' ages ranged from 35 to 84, with 53% of those studied being women.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, Flock will be reducing default data retention period to seven days, which to date has ranged state-by-state to follow local laws.
    Joel Feder, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Both Kpler and Windward showed around five ships – total – exited the Strait of Hormuz on the day Wright said 20 million barrels flowed out of the Arab gulf region.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In Nebraska, millions of federal grant dollars have flowed to a statewide health information exchange nonprofit that has cooperated with the effort.
    Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And Ian Happ raced around from first to score on the throwing error, giving the Cubs a 4-3 lead.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tara Rudd drove toward Angel City’s back line and threaded a pass through to Rodman, who raced downfield and curled a shot just over goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • To convey those sensory elements, the perfume house began by marrying cherry and davana, then leaned into fractionated patchouli oil and relied on black violet notes for their depth.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
  • McConaughey leaned into the song’s easygoing twang, which made Langley’s tale of romantic abandonment for a Texas rival sound like a song that had been passed around a porch for generations.
    Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Lions drove to the Bengals 33 on the first series before Jordan Battle picked off Altmyer at the 25 after the pass went off the hands of wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And high costs and risky conditions along the route had already complicated Putin’s vision – even before Russia’s war against Ukraine drove international players from its Arctic territory.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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