running 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of runningnext
1
as in operating
being in effective operation the car has been running for almost an entire day

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Relevance

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2
as in continuous
going on and on without any interruptions a running struggle just to make ends meet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

running

2 of 4

noun

ˈrə-niŋ How to pronounce running (audio)
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something left the running of the corporation to his subordinates

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running

3 of 4

adverb

as in successively
in succession without others coming in between he won the championship five times running

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running

4 of 4

verb

present participle of run
1
as in jogging
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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2
as in flying
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 leading
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 ranging
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 flowing
to move in a stream water running down the window

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

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

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8
as in driving
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 using
to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

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10
as in becoming
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 melting
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 managing
to look after and make decisions about learning to run the family business

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

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

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

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16
as in chasing
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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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 running
Adjective
Injuries have hampered the Seahawks’ running game, and Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold has shown signs of regression. — Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 Across six games, the running game has lost just 59 yards, and 31 of those are from Madsen keeping the ball. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
Think brisk walking, running, cycling, swimming, or sports with free weights, resistance bands, or body weight. — Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026 Here is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s running list of things to do this November around metro Atlanta. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
The Democratic nominee against Knott hopes for an upset in a year when even Republican members in safe seats like the 13th District are running scared. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Amenities and experiences The hotel is very much integrated into the neighborhood, with its three restaurants on street level and open to the public, and the High Line running just through—though never touching—the building. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for running
Recent Examples of Synonyms for running
  1. operating
  2. continuous
  3. management
  4. successively
  5. jogging
  6. flying
  7. leading
  8. ranging
Adjective
  • The Georgia park was closed on Tuesday for a pre-scheduled non-operating day, officials said.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That sits on the books of the league’s 32 Equity investment arm, and 1/32 of any gains or losses in the entity flow through the Packers’ non-operating income.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of operating
Adjective
  • Its stated goal is to build continuous defensive loops that find and fix weaknesses before attackers do.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In one battery test involving continuous web browsing over 5G, the iPhone Duo reportedly lasted 13 hours and 20 minutes, compared with 10 hours and 6 minutes for Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of continuous
Noun
  • The competition offered a demanding test of the robot’s mobility, balance, and thermal management systems.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Pharmacy benefit management businesses work on the backend, negotiating directly with drugmakers on the cost of prescription drugs.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of management
Adverb
  • Yes, statistically, that’s his worst of the year — his last three games, in fact, have been successively worse, statistically.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Their concentrations then increase at successively higher trophic levels (levels of the food chain) as organisms consume contaminated prey.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of successively
Verb
  • Within seconds of the performance ending, the players were jogging back onto the floor.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As the storm approached Puerto Vallarta, National Guard vehicles patrolled the streets while police used a megaphone to call out the few people who were jogging, walking their dogs or biking by the waterfront.
    — Fernando Llano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of jogging
Verb
  • In some ways, flying a plane is easier than driving a car, at least as far as automation is concerned.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026
  • So Argo’s first Chiron mission is flying on an undisclosed new commercial rocket, definitely a calculated risk.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of flying
Verb
  • Lionel Messi scored his MLS-leading 26th goal in the 83rd minute to lift visiting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday night that has major playoff seeding implications.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Herbert continued to struggle, increasing his league-leading interception total to 10.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of leading
Verb
  • The hotel’s connections with local neighbors is also particularly impressive (no mean feat for newcomers in Kyoto) with The Shinmonzen’s friends ranging from local bento box makers who deliver by bicycle to generations-old antique shop owners.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • California voters decided on 14 measures on their ballot, ranging from the controversial — like the billionaire’s tax and tighter deadlines on environmental permitting — to the unchallenged — like the housing affordability bond.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of ranging

Phrases Containing running

Browse Nearby Words

runners
running
running across
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Cite this Entry

“Running.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on running

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about running

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