run 1 of 5

1
2
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
6
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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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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14
as in to cost
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

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16

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
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
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)

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
2
3
as in went
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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5
6
7
as in tended
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
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
12
13
14
as in cost
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

15
16

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
The ballot measure represents a notable shift in Democrats’ response to Trump, who since his return to the Oval Office has sent National Guard troops to cities run by Democrats and tested the limits of presidential power against a sympathetic Congress. Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Cultural life runs throughout the year. Visit València, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
The comedy remained on Mondays for the rest of its run. Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025 Levels are even higher in groundwater, surface water, and wastewater run-off. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
The mother then drove her 6-year-old daughter into neighboring Warren, where prosecutors said the woman intentionally ran over 11 people with her Jeep. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025 Kelly scrambled down the bench seat, jumped out the passenger side, and ran over and hugged Jean’s neck. David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Hope Florida Foundation scandal consumed this year’s legislative session and has dampened prospects of Casey DeSantis running to succeed her husband in 2026. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 Also currently running in the 2026 primary for sheriff are Richard Breen, a lawyer and former mayor of Glenview, and Stephen Yancey, a longtime sheriff's office employee who ran against Aubrey in the 2022 primary. Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for run
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run
Noun
  • This is presumably a reference to Perkins' status as a closeted gay man, something Hitchcock likely knew, and not because Perkins had homicidal tendencies.
    JR Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • They were supervised, or not supervised, or supervised in such a way that their worst tendencies were encouraged instead of discouraged.
    Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The property, which features lush greenery and old-growth trees set among babbling brooks and water features, is open to the public, and the gardens have served as a popular spot for weddings over the decades in addition to an annual Mother’s Day tea that Weston said attracts hundreds each year.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Yellow, orange, and red leaves pop with color as burbling brooks flow across the floor.
    Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The spacecraft can reach speeds above Mach 20, maintain extreme conditions for longer durations, and sustain heavy g-forces.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The shorter duration of these cruises does mean destinations are more limited than what’s offered for longer cruises.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Through Congressional authorization, President Calvin Coolidge was featured on the 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar alongside George Washington.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Roberts has not had lawful employment authorization since December 2020, according to the complaint.
    Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • After the gentle shove, the cat hops back and instantly looks at Nova, then trots to the opposite side of the bed.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The boy jumps out with his footy and trots away, bouncing it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While the New York Times has significantly cut back on its unsigned editorial board pieces, the Post appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Researchers found that the receivers of the dance weren’t just following the direction and distance indicated by the waggle dance.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For example, at Ochsner Choctaw General in Alabama — the only hospital for 30 miles in any direction — FEMA maps suggest a 100-year flood would overflow a nearby creek but spare the hospital.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Life-threatening flooding of creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Previous government shutdowns have not resulted in mass layoffs, and previous presidents have not used the time to make fundamental changes to agencies.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Run.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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