variants
also chiefly dialectal run
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
5
as in flowed
to move in a stream
water running down the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in travelled
to proceed or move quickly
run and get the nurse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
10
as in turned
to eventually have as a state or quality
the poor woman ran herself ragged trying to care for all those children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in melted
to go from a solid to a liquid state
her makeup started to run when she got in the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in managed
to look after and make decisions about
learning to run the family business
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in powered
to cause to function
in olden days mills were run by flowing water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in cost
to have a price of
that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars
Synonyms & Similar Words
15
as in traveled
to come or be together as friends
he's been running with a bad crowd lately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Blue Jays utility player Ernie Clement atoned for an early base running mistake with a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning to get the scoring started.
—
Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Mamdani is running against independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The teenager manages to skip around Carreras’ challenge, but the defensive pressure means Yamal runs straight into Orkun Kokcu’s tackle.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The Bachelor season 19 contestant, Jade Roper Tolbert, who runs her own cosmetics company, was also a judge.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Alker wasn’t the only player with a first-round birdie run.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Oct. 2025
Intel now has two fabs running 18A nodes, which are designed for AI and high-performance computing applications.
—Kristina Partsinevelos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
In addition to its Cajun-style turkey, Popeyes is also running several other promotions during the holiday season, according to a news release.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
Flying from Houston to Orlando is running from $38 to $142 round trip, about 40 percent lower than last year.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Mamdani is running against independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The teenager manages to skip around Carreras’ challenge, but the defensive pressure means Yamal runs straight into Orkun Kokcu’s tackle.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The Bachelor season 19 contestant, Jade Roper Tolbert, who runs her own cosmetics company, was also a judge.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Alker wasn’t the only player with a first-round birdie run.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Oct. 2025
Intel now has two fabs running 18A nodes, which are designed for AI and high-performance computing applications.
—Kristina Partsinevelos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
In addition to its Cajun-style turkey, Popeyes is also running several other promotions during the holiday season, according to a news release.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
Flying from Houston to Orlando is running from $38 to $142 round trip, about 40 percent lower than last year.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 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
-
In the past, Ware said, domestic terrorists have tended to aim for higher body counts.—
NPR,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For men, comfort with being touched was tied to relationship insecurity—those anxious about their relationships were more likely to seek touch for reassurance, while men uncomfortable with closeness tended to dislike being touched themselves.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 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
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share