Synonyms of run

run 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈrən 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jog
• trot
• race
• sprint
• hurry
• speed
• gallop
• skip
• scamper
• rush
• trip
• leap
• dash
• scurry
• scoot
• zip
• bound
• hustle
• spring
• course
• scuttle
• rip
• hurl
• lope
• breeze
• hare
• tear
• shag
• rocket
• hurtle
• jet
• hasten
• blast
• hie
• blow
• ram
• leg (it)
• bowl
• belt
• barrel
• whisk
• zoom
• hump
• blaze
• careen
• whirl
• step (along)
• pelt
• buzz
• foot (it)
• shoot
• bolt
• hoof (it)
• canter
• rustle
• nip
• bomb
• bustle
• hotfoot (it)
• cannonball
• patter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stroll
• drag
• saunter
• shuffle
• amble
• crawl
• linger
• creep
• poke
• lag
• dawdle
• loiter
• shamble
• tarry
• trudge
• limp
• lumber
• hobble
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flee
• fly
• retreat
• bolt
• escape
• break
• run off
• beat a retreat
• run away
• beat it
• turn tail
• bug out
• skedaddle
• hightail (it)
• make tracks
• get out
• get (away)
• skip (out)
• clear out
• abscond
• make off
• scram
• decamp
• light out
• elope
• scat
• lam
• skirr
• scarper
• mizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confront
• dare
• face
• beard
• remain
• defy
• stay
• brave
• dwell
• linger
• abide
• hang around
• stick around
• tarry

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lead
• go
• extend
• lie
• head
• pass
• cut
• cross
• bear
• course
• follow
• span
• traverse

4

as in to vary

to occur within a continuous range of variation

the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vary
• range
• go
• move
• reach
• change
• shift
• fluctuate
• extend
• alternate
• sweep
• stretch
• mutate

5

as in to flow

to move in a stream

water running down the window

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flow
• pour
• stream
• drip
• rush
• roll
• race
• emanate
• course
• issue
• flood
• arise
• spring
• ripple
• flush
• fountain
• spurt
• overrun
• gush
• engulf
• effuse
• inundate
• trickle
• sheet
• cascade
• swamp
• spout
• overflow
• disembogue
• deluge
• wash out
• dribble
• riffle
• gutter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• back up
• set
• gel
• harden
• coagulate
• congeal
• clot

6

as in to race

to proceed or move quickly

run and get the nurse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• race
• hurry
• speed
• scurry
• trot
• travel
• rush
• drive
• fly
• jump
• chase
• zip
• scoot
• scuttle
• jog
• blow
• buzz
• rip
• step
• dart
• tear
• blast
• dash
• course
• career
• hurl
• breeze
• ram
• motor
• zoom
• crack (on)
• shoot
• bowl
• hare
• whirl
• get a move on
• rocket
• hurtle
• bolt
• hasten
• beat it
• jet
• bundle
• hustle
• hie
• barrel
• blaze
• gallop
• whisk
• belt
• hump
• nip
• rustle
• careen
• pelt
• make tracks
• step on it
• shake a leg
• scamper
• highball
• bomb
• bustle
• flit
• sprint
• streak
• cannonball
• hotfoot (it)
• accelerate
• outrun
• overtake
• stampede
• step out
• whiz
• outpace
• quicken
• catch up
• beetle
• outstrip
• scud
• scuffle
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crawl
• creep
• drag
• poke
• linger
• hang (around or out)
• poke
• lag
• stroll
• dawdle
• loiter
• saunter
• shuffle
• tarry
• amble
• lumber
• slow (down or up)
• plod
• decelerate
• dillydally
• dally

7

as in to tend

to show a liking or proneness (for something)

unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tend
• lean
• go
• incline
• trend
• indicate
• suggest
• point
• gravitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• shun
• shy (from or away from)

8

as in to drive

to urge, push, or force onward

they ran the horses hard in order to get to the ranch quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drive
• herd
• punch
• shepherd
• whip
• spur
• prompt
• egg
• wrangle
• press
• exhort
• prod
• hound
• goad
• flog
• prick
• scourge

9

as in to operate

to control the mechanical operation of

I know how to run that machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operate
• use
• handle
• work
• manipulate
• drive
• steer
• wield
• control
• maneuver
• guide
• pilot
• ply
• direct
• command

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• become
• get
• go
• grow
• come
• turn
• change
• transform
• modify
• wax
• alter
• mutate
• transmute
• metamorphose
• transfigure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• be
• continue
• remain
• stay
• linger
• abide

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• melt
• thaw
• found
• liquefy
• flux
• soften
• fuse
• try
• smelt
• dissolve
• deliquesce
• render
• thin
• gutter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set
• solidify
• harden
• gel
• coagulate
• thicken
• congeal
• jell
• clot
• jelly

12

as in to manage

to look after and make decisions about

learning to run the family business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operate
• manage
• supervise
• oversee
• control
• regulate
• handle
• conduct
• govern
• tend
• keep
• administer
• carry on
• protect
• guide
• direct
• preside (over)
• watch over
• administrate
• steer
• steward
• lead
• watch
• overlook
• superintend
• safeguard
• pilot
• care (for)
• guard
• mind
• micromanage
• codirect
• comanage
• stage-manage

13

as in to activate

to cause to function

in olden days mills were run by flowing water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activate
• trigger
• drive
• spark
• power
• generate
• set off
• move
• start
• fuel
• push
• turn on
• ignite
• provoke
• actuate
• touch off
• crank (up)
• launch
• charge
• fire
• electrify
• energize
• switch
• stimulate
• turn over
• kick over
• stir up
• trip
• reactivate
• release
• accelerate
• recharge
• incite
• instigate
• discharge
• catalyze
• jump-start
• kick-start
• quicken
• excite
• step up
• arouse
• speed (up)
• vitalize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cut
• kill
• shut off
• stop
• check
• cut out
• turn off
• stick
• cut off
• draw up
• halt
• brake
• arrest
• deactivate
• slow
• stall
• suppress
• jam
• repress
• decelerate
• stunt

14

as in to cost

to have a price of

that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cost
• fetch
• bring
• sell (for)
• go (for)
• come (to)
• ask
• list (for)
• amount (to)
• exact
• demand
• total
• command

15

as in to travel

to come or be together as friends

he's been running with a bad crowd lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

• travel
• connect
• collaborate
• mix
• associate
• bond
• company
• join
• mingle
• befriend
• hook up
• sort
• rub shoulders (with)
• take up with
• relate
• hang (around or out)
• cooperate
• consociate
• fraternize
• fall in with
• friend
• pal (around)
• rally
• tie
• rub elbows (with)
• keep company (with)
• consort
• team
• couple
• socialize
• get along
• chum
• club
• hobnob
• get on
• group
• affiliate
• collude
• mess around
• link
• gang
• be friends with
• attach
• side
• league
• interrelate
• knot
• ally
• confederate
• band
• wed
• conjoin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• shun
• alienate
• snub
• split (up)
• split
• disperse
• break up
• disband
• cold-shoulder
• dissociate
• sever
• divorce
• estrange
• sunder
• disjoin
• disunite

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chase
• pursue
• track
• escort
• accompany
• course
• trace
• follow
• tail
• dog
• trail
• run after
• tag
• hound
• shadow
• bird-dog
• watch
• seek
• hunt
• search (for)
• eye
• chaperone
• observe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lead
• guide
• pilot
• head

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tendency
• direction
• tide
• trend
• wind
• drift
• shift
• current
• turn
• curve
• leaning
• swing
• way
• habit
• custom
• downside
• tenor
• propensity
• upside
• turnabout
• countercurrent
• countertrend
• undertow
• undercurrent

2

as in brook

chiefly Midland a natural body of running water smaller than a river

a run full of catfish

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brook
• creek
• stream
• burn
• rivulet
• rill
• tributary
• beck
• canal
• runnel
• wash
• fresh
• bayou
• bourn
• streamlet
• runoff
• brooklet
• race
• runlet
• gill
• kill
• channel
• cut
• slough
• cutoff
• arroyo
• freshet
• coulee
• waterway
• branch
• watercourse
• affluent
• billabong
• millrace
• influent
• millstream
• distributary
• confluent
• gut

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• duration
• time
• lifespan
• life
• lifetime
• continuance
• date
• standing
• span
• term
• stretch
• tour
• tenure
• spell
• hitch
• turn
• longevity
• age
• half-life

4

as in authorization

the right to act or move freely

gave the dogs the run of the place

Synonyms & Similar Words

• authorization
• latitude
• freedom
• control
• license
• power
• free hand
• authority
• mandate
• room
• command
• sway
• hold
• space
• dominion
• clutch
• mastery
• grip
• range
• carte blanche
• blank check

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trots
• diarrhea
• Delhi belly
• Montezuma's revenge
• flux
• turista
• dysentery
• shigellosis
• scour(s)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• visit
• run in
• stop (by or in)
• drop by
• come over
• drop in
• step in
• pop (in)
• call
• see
• come by
• resort (to)
• happen (by)
• hang (at)
• barge (in)
• look up
• haunt
• bop (into)
• frequent

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• practice
• exercise
• prepare (for)
• point (for)
• train (with)
• repeat
• work (at or on)
• perfect
• drill
• refine
• study
• rehearse
• review
• groove

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

• trotted
• jogged
• sprinted
• raced
• galloped
• sped
• hurried
• rushed
• scampered
• skipped
• dashed
• leaped
• tripped
• scurried
• scooted
• zipped
• hustled
• bounded
• sprang
• loped
• tore
• cantered
• hurled
• breezed
• scuttled
• bowled
• blazed
• bolted
• rocketed
• hastened
• rammed
• blasted
• hurtled
• ripped
• careened
• blew
• whisked
• buzzed
• barreled
• hied
• zoomed
• bustled
• whirled
• coursed
• rustled
• pelted
• jetted
• humped
• shagged
• stepped (along)
• pattered
• belted
• shot
• footed (it)
• legged (it)
• bombed
• nipped
• hared
• cannonballed
• hotfooted (it)
• hoofed (it)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strolled
• sauntered
• shuffled
• dragged
• ambled
• lingered
• crept
• crawled
• lagged
• poked
• loitered
• shambled
• trudged
• dawdled
• tarried
• dallied
• plodded
• lumbered
• limped
• hobbled
• dillydallied

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

• retreated
• flew
• fled
• bolted
• escaped
• broke
• skedaddled
• ran off
• ran away
• beat a retreat
• beat it
• turned tail
• bugged out
• made tracks
• hightailed (it)
• got (away)
• decamped
• lit
• got out
• absconded
• made off
• scrammed
• skipped (out)
• eloped
• cleared out
• scarpered
• lammed
• scatted
• skirred
• mizzled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confronted
• faced
• dared
• braved
• remained
• defied
• bearded
• stayed
• lingered
• dwelled
• hung around
• tarried
• abided
• stuck around

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

• led
• went
• extended
• headed
• lay
• bore
• passed
• crossed
• cut
• followed
• spanned
• traversed
• coursed

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

• ranged
• varied
• went
• moved
• shifted
• reached
• changed
• alternated
• swept
• fluctuated
• extended
• stretched
• mutated

5

as in flowed

to move in a stream

water running down the window

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowed
• poured
• streamed
• dripped
• rolled
• rushed
• raced
• flooded
• sprang
• issued
• emanated
• arose
• rippled
• spurted
• effused
• flushed
• gushed
• engulfed
• coursed
• trickled
• deluged
• spouted
• inundated
• swamped
• overflowed
• overran
• riffled
• cascaded
• dribbled
• fountained
• guttered
• sheeted
• disembogued
• washed out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backed up
• set
• hardened
• coagulated
• gelled
• congealed
• clotted

6

as in raced

to proceed or move quickly

run and get the nurse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• raced
• sped
• trotted
• scurried
• hurried
• rushed
• traveled
• drove
• flew
• jumped
• chased
• zipped
• scooted
• darted
• stepped
• buzzed
• tore
• blew
• scuttled
• jogged
• dashed
• blasted
• bolted
• rammed
• bowled
• ripped
• hustled
• zoomed
• hurled
• blazed
• breezed
• whirled
• galloped
• barreled
• bundled
• rocketed
• motored
• hastened
• hurtled
• whisked
• careened
• rustled
• hied
• careered
• bustled
• cracked (on)
• coursed
• pelted
• nipped
• jetted
• humped
• belted
• beat it
• shot
• sprinted
• hared
• bombed
• scampered
• stepped on it
• flitted
• cannonballed
• streaked
• highballed
• hotfooted (it)
• shook a leg
• made tracks
• got a move on
• scudded
• whizzed
• stampeded
• scuffled
• accelerated
• overtook
• outran
• quickened
• outpaced
• beetled
• stepped out
• outstripped
• arrowed
• caught up
• beelined
• fast-forwarded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crept
• crawled
• dragged
• poked
• lingered
• lagged
• hung (around or out)
• strolled
• poked
• loitered
• sauntered
• shuffled
• ambled
• tarried
• dallied
• plodded
• lumbered
• dawdled
• slowed (down or up)
• decelerated
• dillydallied

7

as in leaned

to show a liking or proneness (for something)

unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leaned
• tended
• inclined
• went
• trended
• pointed
• indicated
• suggested
• gravitated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoided
• shunned
• shied (from or away from)

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

• drove
• punched
• herded
• shepherded
• whipped
• spurred
• prompted
• hounded
• exhorted
• pressed
• pricked
• wrangled
• prodded
• goaded
• egged
• flogged
• scourged

9

as in operated

to control the mechanical operation of

I know how to run that machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operated
• used
• handled
• worked
• drove
• manipulated
• wielded
• steered
• controlled
• maneuvered
• plied
• guided
• directed
• piloted
• commanded

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

• became
• went
• grew
• got
• came
• turned
• waxed
• changed
• transformed
• modified
• altered
• metamorphosed
• transmuted
• mutated
• transfigured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• was
• continued
• remained
• stayed
• lingered
• abided

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

• melted
• thawed
• fused
• tried
• founded
• softened
• fluxed
• liquefied
• deliquesced
• dissolved
• smelted
• rendered
• thinned
• guttered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set
• solidified
• hardened
• thickened
• coagulated
• congealed
• clotted
• gelled
• jelled
• jellied

12

as in managed

to look after and make decisions about

learning to run the family business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operated
• managed
• oversaw
• conducted
• supervised
• controlled
• handled
• regulated
• governed
• administered
• directed
• tended
• kept
• guided
• carried on
• steered
• watched over
• protected
• presided (over)
• administrated
• led
• stewarded
• watched
• superintended
• overlooked
• piloted
• guarded
• safeguarded
• cared (for)
• minded
• codirected
• micromanaged
• stage-managed
• comanaged

13

as in triggered

to cause to function

in olden days mills were run by flowing water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• triggered
• activated
• sparked
• drove
• powered
• generated
• moved
• started
• fueled
• set off
• pushed
• ignited
• turned on
• touched off
• provoked
• actuated
• cranked (up)
• launched
• charged
• electrified
• fired
• switched
• turned over
• stimulated
• released
• energized
• tripped
• kicked over
• reactivated
• instigated
• discharged
• accelerated
• stirred up
• incited
• excited
• quickened
• recharged
• aroused
• stepped up
• catalyzed
• kick-started
• jump-started
• sped (up)
• vitalized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cut
• killed
• stopped
• checked
• turned off
• shut off
• cut out
• stuck
• halted
• arrested
• cut off
• stalled
• jammed
• drew up
• slowed
• deactivated
• suppressed
• braked
• stunted
• repressed
• decelerated

14

as in cost

to have a price of

that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cost
• fetched
• brought
• went (for)
• sold (for)
• listed (for)
• came (to)
• totaled
• asked
• amounted (to)
• demanded
• commanded
• exacted

15

as in traveled

to come or be together as friends

he's been running with a bad crowd lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traveled
• collaborated
• connected
• associated
• mingled
• mixed
• bonded
• joined
• befriended
• hooked up
• related
• cooperated
• rubbed shoulders (with)
• took up with
• sorted
• consorted
• tied
• teamed
• chummed
• hung (around or out)
• rallied
• linked
• fell in with
• rubbed elbows (with)
• companied
• coupled
• grouped
• hobnobbed
• consociated
• fraternized
• was friends with
• allied
• kept company (with)
• affiliated
• attached
• palled (around)
• clubbed
• knotted
• socialized
• ganged
• messed around
• colluded
• got on
• sided
• got along
• banded
• interrelated
• friended
• leagued
• confederated
• conjoined
• wedded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoided
• shunned
• snubbed
• dispersed
• alienated
• split
• split (up)
• disbanded
• estranged
• severed
• cold-shouldered
• broke up
• divorced
• dissociated
• sundered
• disjoined
• disunited

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

• chased
• tracked
• pursued
• escorted
• trailed
• traced
• followed
• accompanied
• ran after
• hounded
• tailed
• coursed
• tagged
• shadowed
• dogged
• watched
• bird-dogged
• sought
• hunted
• chaperoned
• searched (for)
• eyed
• observed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• led
• guided
• headed
• piloted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of run

Verb

Joe Biden tapped him to run the Democratic National Committee, for what both men hoped would be the presidency that ended the MAGA era. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

One would be forgiven for assuming that, as a friend of his joked, Carrère had waited to visit the country until a member of his family was running it. — Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

Noun

Santa Clara extended its lead to 63-45 during the second half, fueled by a 10-0 scoring run. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Ouellette scored three touchdowns – on a 41-yard run, a 67-yard run and a 66-yard run – in a six-minute span at the start of the second half to break open the game and Bristol Central went on to win 38-14 at Conard. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026

Verb

Tsai said customers' shopping sessions routinely ran over 30 minutes on average, and that time kept compounding as Fanatics released upwards of a thousand new products each week. — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Skattebo found a crease, lowered his helmet and ran over an opposing defender. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Verb

Joe Biden tapped him to run the Democratic National Committee, for what both men hoped would be the presidency that ended the MAGA era. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

What Brown talked about Brown ran almost entirely on the cost of living. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing run

• dry run
• run (over)
• run across
• run after
• run against
• run along
• run amok
• run amuck
• run away
• run by
• run circles around
• run down
• run in
• run into
• run off
• run off with
• run on
• run one's mouth
• run out of
• run over
• run past
• run rings around
• run riot
• run the risk of
• run through
• run to seed
• run upon