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

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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 Injuries, pitching problems, batting with runners in scoring position and base-running issues all come to mind quickly. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2026 The TikTok edits, the outfit identification threads, the contestant rivalries trending on X by the end of an episode, all of it turns 60 minutes of passive viewing into a multi-platform conversation that runs all week. Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 Several Democrats have announced plans to run for the Senate nomination this week. Meg Kinnard, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 This is Gordo and Tracy sacrificing themselves by running onto the moon’s surface with only duct-tape suits to stop a nuclear reactor from melting down. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2026 The service Owners Phil and Silvia Baxter run the show here alongside their wonderful general manager James. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 The Democratic state senator is running for governor in Arkansas, where voters have three times backed a president who’s used executive orders to test and ignore the limits of his power. Andrew Demillo, Washington Post, 10 July 2026 The beloved Polish businesswoman who ran her herb and floral business for 37 years decided to pass on the business to her friend’s daughter. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026 United need someone who has the pace and presence to make a 30-yard recovery run and stop a cutback cross when needed. Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • Joe Biden famously trotted across the road shaking hands and kissing babies during Pittsburgh’s Labor Day parade in 2015.
    Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
  • About 100 yards to the right, a herd of caribou trotted past.
    Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • In the pandemic years, demographic experts say, under-35 adults retreated to parental homes to ride out quarantines and escape big-city crowds.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Disposable income has since retreated to the normal upward trendline, but no matter.
    Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • The last group is led by board president Heather Fargo, who served as mayor of Sacramento from 2000-2008.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • This association with high status, as well as a rudimentary analysis of the size of the bones, led archaeologists to conclude that the burial belonged to a man.
    Jack Guy, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Among the 142 former players, made up of 126 men and 16 women who ranged in age from 30 to 60, researchers did not find significant impacts on cognition, which includes skills like memory and attention, Lynch said.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
  • Changes over the seven days ranged from a drop of 5% to an increase of 2%.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • This let the team observe how water flowed inside, outside, and through the device.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
  • The lace-up breastplate, which resembled a Greek sculpture, flowed into a white and ombré grey beaded bottom.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • Norway’s elite 6-foot-5 goal scorer raced with some of the best in the battle for the Golden Boot in the tournament, given to the player with the most goals, and his performance in DFW put his name firmly on the world stage.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • After a poor first touch with his head, Digne was trying to clear the ball when Yamal raced in from behind to challenge in the penalty area.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • The singer leaned all the way into the feel-good and joyful song, dropping pink, white and orange balloons from the ceiling as confetti shot in the air.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2026
  • Instead, the Ginger/Dark Charcoal/White leaned more lifestyle with a look somewhat reminiscent of the iconic Timberland 6-Inch Premium Boot with its buttery suede upper.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • Tribal members drove around in a beat-up Buick flinging matches out the window.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • Giant armored bulldozers—now Caterpillar model D9—stabbed their front blades into the ground and drove forward, flipping fields and shaving off orchards.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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