RAN Synonyms: 485 Similar and Opposite Words

ran

verb

variants also chiefly dialectal run

Definition of ran

past tense of run

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

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Relevance

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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

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as in led

to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the road runs along the river for a while

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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 flowed

to move in a stream water running down the window

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as in raced

to proceed or move quickly run and get the nurse

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as in leaned

to show a liking or proneness (for something) unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

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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 operated

to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

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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 melted

to go from a solid to a liquid state her makeup started to run when she got in the pool

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as in managed

to look after and make decisions about learning to run the family business

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as in triggered

to cause to function in olden days mills were run by flowing water

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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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as in traveled

to come or be together as friends he's been running with a bad crowd lately

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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

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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 The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus. — Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026 This iconic Pasadena diner has been up and running since 1963, with local Michael Osborne taking the reins since the late ‘70s. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026 Epstein investigation churns in Congress Black is the latest among several prominent figures, including former President Clinton and Bill Gates, who have been asked to appear as part of the Oversight Committee’s long-running probe of Epstein. — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Peña pulverized it onto the train tracks that run above left field. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Production for the long-running show will move from Hollywood to Georgia, production and distribution company Fremantle confirmed to NBCLA. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026 Cloud adoption has changed where many retail systems run, but local workloads will always play a critical role in day-to-day store operations. — Susan Odle, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 This year both shows, as well as Brand Assembly, ran simultaneously. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026 The 2026 Tokyo Film Festival will run from October 26 to November 4. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran

Verb

With his team up a touchdown midway through the first quarter, Jalen Brewster trotted back out to the field.

— McClain Baxley for the AJC, AJC.com, 11 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of trotted

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

Definition of retreated

Verb

AmaWaterways arranges pre- and post-cruise stays of several nights in both cities with luxury accommodations, cultural exploration led by local experts, and transfers between hotel and ship.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
The work comes from a research group led by Ethan Secor, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and co-founder of startup Contour Circuits.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of led

Verb

My feelings about Dudamel as an interpreter have ranged from irritation at his turn-it-up-to-11 showiness to admiration for his ability to make listeners hear music afresh.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Bonus amounts for production line workers ranged from $245 to $750, with the majority receiving $750.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of ranged

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

Definition of raced

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

Definition of leaned

Verb

The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Stocks posted a comeback one day after the Fed's decision to raise rates by a quarter percentage point — with the suggestion of at least one more rate increase this year — drove major market averages sharply lower Wednesday.

— Justina Lee,Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026