1
as in smuggler
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally
a drug runner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in messenger
one that carries a message or does an errand
sent a runner to tell them that all was ready for the feast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 runner
One grand prize winner receives free bread for a year, while the runner up wins a native fruit tree.
—
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Sogiv Spider Web Table Runner Kick your October festivities up a notch with this fun spider web table runner that’s now on sale for just $7.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Instead of closing out the series, Rivera opened by walking Kevin Millar, who was replaced by pinch runner Dave Roberts.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Dean could be used as a defensive replacement for Edman or as a pinch-runner against the Reds.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Sogiv Spider Web Table Runner Kick your October festivities up a notch with this fun spider web table runner that’s now on sale for just $7.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Instead of closing out the series, Rivera opened by walking Kevin Millar, who was replaced by pinch runner Dave Roberts.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Dean could be used as a defensive replacement for Edman or as a pinch-runner against the Reds.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runner
Noun
-
First by shadowing a refugee smuggler and some refugees preparing to trek through the treacherous Darién Gap rainforest.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The family travelled north from Central America for weeks, crossing rivers by night and riding concealed in smugglers’ trucks.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Goodall launched the Jane Goodall Institute and became a UN messenger of peace during her lifetime.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The Party has failed to find both a singular message and messenger, Jon Allsop argues in his latest column.—
Erin Neil,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.—
Jay Cannon,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
From car couriers to bikes to sidewalk robots and now drones, Uber is aiming to build the most flexible delivery network in the world.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runner. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share