Synonyms of running

running 1 of 4

adjective

1

as in operating

being in effective operation

the car has been running for almost an entire day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• operational
• operative
• functioning
• going
• working
• on
• active
• in force
• live
• alive
• functional
• operable
• in commission
• living
• on line
• producing
• viable
• in gear
• effective
• performing
• serving
• humming
• effectual
• usable
• useful
• flourishing
• busy
• yielding
• employable
• productive
• workable
• thriving
• dynamic
• bustling
• roaring
• astir

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• broken
• dead
• inactive
• inoperative
• nonfunctioning
• nonoperative
• useless
• nonfunctional
• ineffective
• nonoperational
• nonactivated
• idle
• ineffectual
• nonoperating
• kaput
• arrested
• deactivated
• decommissioned
• unusable
• dormant
• fallow
• inoperable
• unworkable
• asleep
• inert
• quiescent
• unproductive
• latent
• sleepy
• lifeless
• nonproductive
• stagnating
• vegetating

2

as in continuous

going on and on without any interruptions

a running struggle just to make ends meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• continuous
• continued
• continuing
• continual
• nonstop
• incessant
• uninterrupted
• constant
• unremitting
• perpetual
• unbroken
• unceasing
• persistent
• ceaseless
• steady
• permanent
• endless
• unending
• interminable
• lasting
• enduring
• eternal
• immortal
• everlasting
• stable
• undying
• deathless
• durable
• unchanging
• unvarying
• changeless
• indestructible
• imperishable
• dateless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• periodic
• discontinuous
• intermittent
• recurrent
• alternate
• serial
• seasonal
• periodical
• cyclic
• occasional
• rhythmic
• recurring
• noncontinuous
• sporadic
• alternating
• erratic
• irregular
• spasmodic
• spotty
• unsteady
• fitful

running

2 of 4

noun

ˈrə-niŋ 

as in management

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

left the running of the corporation to his subordinates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• management
• operation
• handling
• control
• administration
• supervision
• direction
• government
• stewardship
• oversight
• governance
• presidency
• conduct
• regulation
• leadership
• charge
• guidance
• care
• superintendence
• intendance
• superintendency
• custody
• keeping
• protection
• agency
• logistics
• lap
• engineering
• manipulation
• ward
• trust
• guardianship
• safekeeping
• rulership
• tutelage
• generalship
• aegis
• codirection
• machination
• coadministration
• comanagement

running

3 of 4

adverb

as in successively

in succession without others coming in between

he won the championship five times running

Synonyms & Similar Words

• successively
• together
• repeatedly
• consecutively
• continuously
• constantly
• hand running
• sequentially
• back-to-back
• continually
• serially
• on end
• successionally
• seriatim
• uninterruptedly
• night and day
• subsequently
• unceasingly
• continuingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intermittently
• discontinuously
• interruptedly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jogging
• trotting
• sprinting
• racing
• galloping
• speeding
• skipping
• rushing
• hurrying
• leaping
• tripping
• scampering
• dashing
• scurrying
• zipping
• scooting
• bounding
• hustling
• springing
• loping
• tearing
• blazing
• blasting
• scuttling
• hurling
• ripping
• buzzing
• bowling
• barreling
• blowing
• coursing
• hurtling
• cantering
• humping
• shagging
• bustling
• zooming
• careening
• rocketing
• ramming
• jetting
• whirling
• hastening
• bolting
• whisking
• pelting
• haring
• belting
• rustling
• shooting
• stepping (along)
• breezing
• bombing
• cannonballing
• hying
• pattering
• nipping
• footing (it)
• legging (it)
• hotfooting (it)
• hoofing (it)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strolling
• shuffling
• dragging
• sauntering
• lingering
• crawling
• ambling
• creeping
• lagging
• poking
• shambling
• dawdling
• loitering
• trudging
• plodding
• tarrying
• dallying
• lumbering
• limping
• hobbling
• dillydallying

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flying
• fleeing
• retreating
• bolting
• escaping
• breaking
• running away
• running off
• skedaddling
• beating a retreat
• beating it
• bugging out
• turning tail
• making tracks
• hightailing (it)
• scramming
• getting (away)
• getting out
• absconding
• making off
• decamping
• skipping (out)
• eloping
• clearing out
• lighting out
• lamming
• scarpering
• skirring
• mizzling
• scatting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• facing
• confronting
• daring
• remaining
• braving
• defying
• staying
• lingering
• hanging around
• dwelling
• bearding
• abiding
• sticking around
• tarrying

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leading
• going
• extending
• lying
• heading
• crossing
• passing
• bearing
• cutting
• following
• spanning
• traversing
• coursing

4

as in ranging

to occur within a continuous range of variation

the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ranging
• varying
• going
• moving
• alternating
• shifting
• changing
• reaching
• fluctuating
• extending
• stretching
• sweeping
• mutating

5

as in flowing

to move in a stream

water running down the window

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowing
• pouring
• streaming
• dripping
• rolling
• rushing
• racing
• issuing
• flooding
• emanating
• springing
• rippling
• arising
• coursing
• flushing
• trickling
• spurting
• gushing
• spouting
• inundating
• effusing
• swamping
• overrunning
• engulfing
• overflowing
• dribbling
• disemboguing
• deluging
• cascading
• riffling
• fountaining
• guttering
• sheeting
• washing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backing up
• setting
• hardening
• clotting
• coagulating
• gelling
• congealing

6

as in racing

to proceed or move quickly

run and get the nurse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• racing
• traveling
• speeding
• trotting
• rushing
• hurrying
• scurrying
• driving
• flying
• jumping
• chasing
• zipping
• buzzing
• scooting
• stepping
• darting
• blowing
• scuttling
• jogging
• tearing
• blasting
• ripping
• dashing
• blazing
• bowling
• zooming
• hustling
• ramming
• barreling
• whirling
• hurling
• bolting
• haring
• shooting
• careering
• humping
• hurtling
• bundling
• coursing
• breezing
• motoring
• galloping
• bustling
• careening
• rocketing
• rustling
• jetting
• whisking
• hastening
• cracking (on)
• pelting
• nipping
• belting
• beating it
• cannonballing
• sprinting
• highballing
• hying
• bombing
• flitting
• scampering
• getting a move on
• stepping on it
• making tracks
• shaking a leg
• streaking
• scudding
• accelerating
• whizzing
• hotfooting (it)
• scuffling
• stampeding
• outrunning
• overtaking
• beetling
• outpacing
• stepping out
• quickening
• outstripping
• catching up
• beelining
• arrowing
• fast-forwarding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crawling
• creeping
• poking
• dragging
• lingering
• hanging (around or out)
• lagging
• poking
• strolling
• shuffling
• dawdling
• loitering
• sauntering
• ambling
• plodding
• dallying
• lumbering
• decelerating
• slowing (down or up)
• tarrying
• dillydallying

7

as in tending

to show a liking or proneness (for something)

unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tending
• leaning
• inclining
• trending
• going
• pointing
• indicating
• suggesting
• gravitating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• shunning
• shying (from or away from)

8

as in driving

to urge, push, or force onward

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• driving
• punching
• herding
• shepherding
• whipping
• wrangling
• spurring
• exhorting
• hounding
• prompting
• pressing
• prodding
• goading
• flogging
• pricking
• egging
• scourging

9

as in using

to control the mechanical operation of

I know how to run that machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• using
• handling
• working
• manipulating
• driving
• controlling
• wielding
• guiding
• plying
• maneuvering
• steering
• directing
• piloting
• commanding

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• becoming
• getting
• growing
• going
• coming
• turning
• changing
• waxing
• transforming
• modifying
• altering
• mutating
• metamorphosing
• transmuting
• transfiguring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• being
• remaining
• continuing
• staying
• lingering
• abiding

11

as in melting

to go from a solid to a liquid state

her makeup started to run when she got in the pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

• melting
• thawing
• liquefying
• fusing
• softening
• trying
• fluxing
• smelting
• dissolving
• deliquescing
• founding
• rendering
• thinning
• guttering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• setting
• solidifying
• hardening
• thickening
• coagulating
• clotting
• gelling
• congealing
• jellying
• jelling

12

as in managing

to look after and make decisions about

learning to run the family business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• managing
• supervising
• overseeing
• controlling
• regulating
• conducting
• handling
• governing
• administering
• keeping
• guiding
• protecting
• directing
• tending
• presiding (over)
• administrating
• carrying on
• watching over
• superintending
• stewarding
• leading
• watching
• steering
• overlooking
• safeguarding
• guarding
• piloting
• caring (for)
• minding
• micromanaging
• codirecting
• stage-managing
• comanaging

13

as in activating

to cause to function

in olden days mills were run by flowing water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activating
• triggering
• sparking
• driving
• powering
• generating
• moving
• fueling
• starting
• pushing
• setting off
• igniting
• touching off
• turning on
• actuating
• provoking
• cranking (up)
• launching
• charging
• firing
• electrifying
• switching
• energizing
• stimulating
• tripping
• turning over
• releasing
• reactivating
• accelerating
• recharging
• kicking over
• discharging
• stirring up
• exciting
• inciting
• instigating
• jump-starting
• kick-starting
• stepping up
• arousing
• catalyzing
• vitalizing
• quickening
• speeding (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cutting
• killing
• checking
• stopping
• sticking
• cutting out
• shutting off
• turning off
• cutting off
• halting
• stalling
• braking
• arresting
• jamming
• drawing up
• slowing
• deactivating
• suppressing
• repressing
• decelerating
• stunting

14

as in costing

to have a price of

that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• costing
• fetching
• bringing
• going (for)
• selling (for)
• coming (to)
• amounting (to)
• listing (for)
• totaling
• asking
• demanding
• commanding
• exacting

15

as in traveling

to come or be together as friends

he's been running with a bad crowd lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traveling
• connecting
• collaborating
• mixing
• associating
• mingling
• bonding
• joining
• relating
• befriending
• rubbing shoulders (with)
• chumming
• cooperating
• rubbing elbows (with)
• consorting
• sorting
• hanging (around or out)
• hobnobbing
• taking up with
• fraternizing
• keeping company (with)
• hooking up
• being friends with
• consociating
• tying
• palling (around)
• messing around
• teaming
• linking
• falling in with
• rallying
• companying
• affiliating
• socializing
• coupling
• allying
• grouping
• clubbing
• attaching
• colluding
• getting along
• knotting
• interrelating
• ganging
• siding
• getting on
• confederating
• friending
• leaguing
• wedding
• banding
• conjoining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• shunning
• snubbing
• alienating
• dispersing
• splitting
• splitting (up)
• estranging
• breaking up
• disbanding
• cold-shouldering
• dissociating
• divorcing
• severing
• sundering
• disjoining
• disuniting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chasing
• tracking
• pursuing
• escorting
• trailing
• tracing
• following
• tailing
• accompanying
• running after
• dogging
• hounding
• coursing
• tagging
• shadowing
• bird-dogging
• watching
• hunting
• seeking
• chaperoning
• eyeing
• searching (for)
• observing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leading
• guiding
• heading
• piloting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of running

Adjective

And yes, the running game eventually broke through — courtesy of fifth-year tailback Wayne Knight and his trio of touchdowns. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

The running game, led by Cam Skattebo, got off to a strong start. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Noun

Although fewer than half of the productions analyzed were comedies, 80% used narcolepsy as a running gag. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Best known for its high-performance running shoes, this month, Asics is launching a new range of walking shoes in the hopes of driving global sales. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

The reporters, Bernard Nicolas and Thierry Gadault, believed that the files had been hacked by Project Raven, a long-running surveillance operation conducted by Emirati intelligence. — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

For just as long, critics have ripped into his eccentric on-stage persona; still, Thompson has enjoyed one of the longest-running residencies in Las Vegas, playing shows at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing running

• hand running
• running mate