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 On Wednesday, the evening before they were set to dock, the mood seemed far more jovial aboard the ship; sailors were chatting and laughing, some were running a 5K around a deck now free of aircraft. — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026 Fishing has long dried up in Snook’s Arm, so Calvin and his son Wade (Charlie Heaton) make a living by collecting ice for a local vodka brewery and running an Airbnb out of their home. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Standard Chartered has also partnered with HSBC to run a schools outreach scheme, which will start in the first quarter of 2027. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 If your supplement stack already runs the length of your bathroom counter, adding another capsule for hair growth deserves scrutiny. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 Accounting software can automate payroll and other routine tasks, giving you more time to focus on running your business. — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 Stretching across the base of the windshield, the panoramic iDrive display projects information onto a black band that runs from one A-pillar to the other. — New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026 In the three years since Hamas launched its attack, more than 73,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 For example, a successful Ukrainian author whose print runs for five of her books were destroyed in a Russian attack. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
  • Just after the sun melted into the sea a deer trotted by, followed by its more nervous baby.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In the 10th, automatic runner Joey Ortiz advanced on a bunt and trotted home when Frelick bounced a single to right field off Grant Wolfram (6-4).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • After the physical altercation, both men retreated toward their vehicles after witness Jamie Jedlinsky, 70, reportedly stepped in to defuse the situation.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Shares exploded higher by as much as 211% but retreated from those peaks and are starting to form an interesting baseline.
    — Jay Woods, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The aerospace company, led by Elon Musk, struck a deal to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum that will advance Starlink’s wireless capabilities by enabling the signal to pass through walls and other obstacles.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
  • After firing a bullet into Levy’s head, Jones left the homicide scene in the 800 block of Ipswich Avenue and led officers on a chase.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Creating community El Fenix At its height, Little Mexico's population is estimated to have ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 people.
    — Alexis Guerrero, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The college said similar appointments for visiting leaders have ranged from a week or semester to as long as a year.
    — Nora O’Neill October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Star67, a private-dining concept, kept the crowd snacking on birthday cake bites and ice cream sundaes as the drinks flowed.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Material from both sides of this line flowed together to assemble the parent objects of Bennu, Ryugu and CI chondrites, with ice acting like glue to bond the fine dust particles together.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Shawn suddenly jumped up from his seat and raced to the entrance.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Verstappen won the last time F1 raced at the Sepang circuit back in 2017.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Rush’s musical complexity leaned towards proggy adventures with time signatures and song structure, while Steely Dan were more inclined to wedge wild stacks of jazz chords into pop songs.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This isn’t the first time maximalism has had a moment; 1970s style leaned that way, too.
    — Steven John, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Although robust buyer demand briefly drove yields down to session lows following the auction, yield levels above 5% remain substantially higher than the historical norm over the past decade.
    — , CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The suit says Her displayed doctored, sexualized photos of Henry and other officers, including in Henry's own office, and drove unannounced to a golf simulator in Woodbury where Henry was spending personal time.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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