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 The mayor at the time, Michael Guido, was elected after running a campaign with anti-Arab racist messaging and once complained about the hygiene of some Arab immigrants. Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 12 Sep. 2026 Underwood threw 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards and running for 392 yards and six more touchdowns. Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Jimmy Kimmel turned to YouTube on Thursday night to house his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico — in light of fears that the FCC would punish ABC stations for running the chat. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 Strada is part of a group of family members of 9/11 victims embroiled in a long-running lawsuit against the Saudis. Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Garth Brooks, Noname and women running the show Fall means live music. Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Brian Dillard gets loose in the secondary and Will Jackson hits him for an 85 yard catch and run for the touchdown. Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026 Coming to 281 to look for a place to run his workshop, he was immediately impressed by its structure. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026 Setup would begin Sunday, and the shoot would run from Monday to Tuesday. Sarah Shanfield, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • 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
  • The next day, Magglio Ordóñez trotted right by him on his way around the bases after his pennant-clinching home run.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
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
Verb
  • For all of the franchise’s misadventures, the Mets — led by ones who were there for that sad September in 2001 — get this right.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Now, a team led by Ron Folman, a physicist at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, with collaborators in Germany, the UK, and the US, including Nobel laureate Roger Penrose, has done it.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Such claims ranged widely across geographical borders and political persuasions.
    Omer Bartov, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The voters, who ranged from 24 to 83, will either sit out the race or begrudgingly back Matsui to prevent Vang from winning the seat.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • For generations, Christian mission flowed primarily from Europe and North America to Africa.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • About 20 million barrels of Gulf oil flowed through the strait prior to the start of the war.
    Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
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
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
Verb
  • On a late October night in 2018, Andrew Luck drove home after a miserable Sunday afternoon.
    Doug Haller, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Listed as co-defendants are Josh Marshall and Robert Morgenroth, Burke’s managers; their company, Mogul Vision; and Burke’s live-in security guard, who the suit alleges drove him to pick up Celeste from her parents’ home in 2024.
    Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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