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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Warren also sees his ability to read defenses and make decisions at the line of scrimmage as a way to contribute to the running game. — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Fermin has been contributing more than controlling the running game since returning from a head contusion on July 17. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
Norda has embrace Vibram's grippiest running outsole for its popular wave of shoes. — Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Barry Alvarez turned Wisconsin into a strong, stable program in the early 1990s and created an unmistakable identity built around the offensive line and a strong running game. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
But running it somewhat lower would not appear to entail any immediate risk. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 Meghan’s isn’t the first royal presence on the long-running BBC soap, albeit in a fictional form. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 24 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • True, some if the upside surprise has come from non-operating gains on holdings in huge, private AI pioneers, but not all of it.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Definition of operating
Adjective
  • Congress now has 90 days of continuous session to review the agreement, which would go into effect absent objection.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Adaptalux says the internal battery lasts up to eight hours of continuous use depending on brightness and recharges over USB-C, which can also keep the pod running while permanently plugged in.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of continuous
Noun
  • Another win was with a European car maker that replaced its next-gen Endpoint Detection and Response, legacy SIEM, and legacy vulnerability management product with an eight-figure net-new Falcon Flex.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Florida is launching a new initiative to encourage more students to choose careers in emergency management, which the governor announced a week after a shakeup in leadership at the state’s Department of Emergency Management.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of management
Adverb
  • Samsung has successively shaved a few millimeters off every year, taking a leap last year with the Z Fold 7.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Like rock-paper-scissors, each generation of warfare emerges by successively absorbing and controlling the decisive element that came before it.
    — Will Cady, SPIN, 30 July 2026
Definition of successively
Verb
  • With his team trailing in the bottom of the 10th inning, Contreras grounded out to third and was once again booed after jogging down the line.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In Maine, where she was surrounded by outdoorsy types jogging and hiking, and had access to a free gym on campus and money for healthy foods, Marnik had remade herself.
    — Felice J. Freyer, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of jogging
Verb
  • But their life as flying animals is short, lasting a few weeks or months.
    — Olga R. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Bringing your own electrolytes Hydration is always a problem when flying.
    — Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of flying
Verb
  • While no group has claimed responsibility, Marisks assessed that Houthi involvement was the leading conclusion.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • San Francisco entered the bottom of the eighth inning leading 2-0, but reliever Carson Seymour allowed the tying runs to reach base when Mickey Gasper hit a leadoff double, then Nick Sogard followed by drawing a walk.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of leading
Verb
  • In 2023, Gupta set a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of factices, amassing more than 3,000 in his collection ranging in value from $2,000 to $100,000.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities are scrambling to open makeshift shelters and process asylum claims, with estimates of those left ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 and aid groups warning of serious humanitarian gaps.
    — Antonio Sempere, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 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 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on running

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about running

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