ran

variants also chiefly dialectal run
past tense of run
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as in went
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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as in tended
to show a liking or proneness (for something) unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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as in turned
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

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 Palace’s super-strength is low crosses provided by flying wing-backs, when they can be released, running into space on the edge of the box. Liam Tharme, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025 Frouman was President of international at North Road since its inception and ran the operation from the UK capital. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025 But Kim Kardashian amplified a long-running conspiracy theory that the moon landing was a hoax that NASA staged. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025 And more than 90% of occupiers are running corporate real estate AI pilots, according to the report. Diana Olick, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025 Get up and running before tonight's games start to make the most of these offers. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025 The Santa Claus Express runs from the day after Thanksgiving until December 24. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025 Then came more staff – to run the analytics and sports performance and nutrition and, in some cases, the head coach. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025 The Dolphins’ owner removed Chris Grier, the man who has been with the franchise for 26 years, served as general manager for the past nine years, run the football side of the organization for the past seven years and assembled this lackluster roster. Omar Kelly october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • As Varsho trotted, the Rogers Centre erupted – and the fans kept partying on the club level well past midnight.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Just as Tommy Fleetwood was preparing to putt on the green at the par-5 18th hole, a collared four-legged visitor trotted onto the fairway.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At one point in the third quarter, Daniels scrambled against a blitz, stopped to throw, then retreated again 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage and completed a pass while getting crushed to the ground.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Yet, when countered with decisiveness, Putin has retreated.
    Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • After previously awarded National Endowment for the Humanities grants to organizations around the country were canceled in April, Wisconsin Humanities went into survival mode and launched an emergency fundraising campaign.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • On the beauty front, Nader styled her blond hair in loose waves and went with a dewy makeup look.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Purchase prices ranged from about $460,000 to more than $16 million.
    NPR, NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Recently that ranged from a man in his 70s who lost his childhood sweetheart to cancer to a woman who was burying her beloved horse.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Specialty cocktails flowed throughout the night, while Unfortunate Portrait created live custom sketches, bringing a playful touch.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
  • In the past two years, historic droughts have left wide dry patches where deep channels once flowed.
    Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Puma was previously very reliant on wholesale but Hoeld saw this as harmful to the brand’s image as larger retailers tended to discount too heavily.
    Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Howard’s sweet personality, too, tended to go a bit sour at times.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, Paul drove to a bar and took shots with Connor, according to surveillance video from the bar obtained by Greenville News.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The Martinezes drove up from Miami to welcome their new baby to the family.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hubbarth handled it pretty well, asking a couple of questions on the issues and producing a little news.
    Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Caliendo handled the rest of the game, allowing no quarterback pressures on 32 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

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