run 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈrən How to pronounce run (audio)
Definition of runnext
1
as in to jog
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flee
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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3
as in to lead
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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4
as in to vary
to occur within a continuous range of variation the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month

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5
as in to flow
to move in a stream water running down the window

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to race
to proceed or move quickly run and get the nurse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to tend
to show a liking or proneness (for something) unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to drive
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 to operate
to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

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10
as in to become
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
11
as in to melt
to go from a solid to a liquid state her makeup started to run when she got in the pool

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12
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about learning to run the family business

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13
as in to activate
to cause to function in olden days mills were run by flowing water

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14
as in to cost
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

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15
as in to travel
to come or be together as friends he's been running with a bad crowd lately

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16
as in to chase
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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run

2 of 5

noun

1
as in tendency
a prevailing or general movement or inclination the company's stock has remained consistent with the overall run of the market

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2
as in brook
chiefly Midland a natural body of running water smaller than a river a run full of catfish

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3
as in duration
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress the actor has been assigned the part for the run of the show

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4
as in authorization
the right to act or move freely gave the dogs the run of the place

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5
as in trots
runs plural abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools with weekend guests in the house, it was no time to get the runs

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run (over)

3 of 5

verb (2)

as in to visit
to make a brief visit I could run over right now if that's good for you

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run over

4 of 5

verb (3)

as in to practice
to do over and over so as to become skilled let's run over this dance number one more time

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ran

5 of 5

verb (4)

variants also chiefly dialectal run
past tense of 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

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
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in flowed
to move in a stream water running down the window

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly run and get the nurse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in operated
to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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 triggered
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 run
Verb
She was hired to do the promotional photography and run social media for the show, and soon enough, the two were renovating a home of their own. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 The most successful political party in the world—the Communist Party of China (CPC)—has 100 million members and aims to be running the strongest state on earth by 2049. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
Beyond pressuring quarterbacks and blowing up run plays behind the line of scrimmage, Harris has also forced three fumbles on the season. — Steven Johnson october 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026 Villanova is the only American university that can claim a pope as a graduate — a distinction that has elevated its profile alongside a run of athletic success. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
The driver pulls their van off the road so it’s parked halfway on an empty lot, runs over in black jeans and a band tee with the sleeves cut off, and climbs into the truck bed as Hollywell jokingly pulls away. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026 Gordon runs over with his car and leaves permanently handicapped. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
Other streamers are supposed to run only age-appropriate ads, but some parents have reported scary or mature ads popping up on kids’ stuff. — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 She was hired to do the promotional photography and run social media for the show, and soon enough, the two were renovating a home of their own. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for run
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run
  1. jog
  2. flee
  3. lead
  4. vary
  5. flow
  6. race
  7. tend
  8. drive
Verb
  • The car drove off, and the other person who had approached the vehicle jogged after it.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Within seconds of the performance ending, the players were jogging back onto the floor.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of jog
Verb
  • Jaros and Rauh calculate that the state will lose money so long as 24 percent of the tax base flees, a condition that’s already been met.
    — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Some senators fled while others braced themselves inside the Senate chamber as Officer Eugene Goodman tried to reason with the mob, and Senate staffers barricaded themselves in offices, hiding.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of flee
Verb
  • After a quiet day otherwise, Riley exploded for 33- and 72-yard rushing touchdowns to finish as the game’s leading rusher with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler lead Lakers past the Clippers in an error-prone game.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of lead
Verb
  • The measures in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio vary in scope.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Microsoft notes that availability, purchasing options, eligible games, and cloud gaming features may vary by market, device, account eligibility, and preview ring.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of vary
Verb
  • From there, wine flowed as attendees tucked into filet mignon and sea bass while chatting across large burgundy floral centerpieces.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some of the weapons from American manufacturers purchased during the Biden administration are still flowing to Ukraine, but many of those contracts have been fulfilled.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • With Sandburg racing out to 7-1 and 8-3 leads in the third game, that came in handy.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic needs to keep racing and needs the rest of the business world to keep up.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of race
Verb
  • Smaller-scale landlords tend to be more flexible with tenants on issues such as late rent, data show, so the city should award grants or subsidies to help those landlords keep their properties habitable, Khanmalek said.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Although black proved to be the most popular choice, most Salomon pairs (at least those in neutral colorways) tend to go with pretty much anything, from jeans to track pants to pleated miniskirts.
    — Nuria Luis, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of tend
Verb
  • Pratt, a 22-year-old rookie whose go-ahead hit sparked the Brewers to a 5-4 win in Game 2, drove a slider into the left-field seats against Seymour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In recent years, General Motors has consistently sought to demonstrate that its investments in autonomous driving systems and software services can yield high margin revenue and open new growth frontiers.
    — , CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of drive

Phrases Containing run

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rums
run
runabout
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Cite this Entry

“Run.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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