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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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
North Crowley just toyed with the running game with 20 rushes for 114 yards, but the Panthers were dominant through the air. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026 Footwear News will host a panel with industry insiders in order to explore how specialty run stores can attract more non-running running shoe wearers. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
In running, the market remains stable and On is growing alongside other brands. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026 The Colts reportedly had a second-round pick on the table for the running back, but chose to keep their star for the next regime at Lucas Oil Stadium. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
And by playing a clean game and making clutch stops, Alabama was able to win comfortably despite being outgained in total yards, 457-285, and running 28 fewer offensive plays than LSU. — ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026 Biggs, who had been principal at Burke from 2012 to 2018, is running for president of the Chicago Board of Education. — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 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
  • Demand is largely coming from data centers, which require the kind of continuous, on-site power generation fuel cells provide.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
  • These incentives vary considerably, but some car insurers reward customers who renew early, maintain continuous coverage or remain insured with the company for several years.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of continuous
Noun
  • The company says its load-management controls can help accommodate the fluctuating power requirements of computing hardware while supporting grid stability.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Derriso went through basic training and spent six years in the Army, mostly handling personnel management and other administrative duties.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 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
  • Less than an hour later, the same cameras showed Watson climbing out of the ambulance and jogging out of the tunnel at Lambeau Field, much to the surprise and delight of his teammates and the crowd.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Within seconds of the performance ending, the players were jogging back onto the floor.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of jogging
Verb
  • Rumors about the lineup had been flying around for weeks, as per usual in the fall, with multiple reports naming the eventual headliners while the festival stayed mum on the official report.
    — Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Flying cars arrive XPeng plans to introduce its two-seat flying vehicle for limited commercial use in the second half of 2027.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of flying
Verb
  • Reaves embodied Doncic in almost every way Sunday, leading the Lakers to a 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons as Doncic sat out with low back tightness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • At least two new incoming Democratic senators expressed some reservations Sunday about Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who's expected to be reelected to his post after leading his party back to the majority.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of leading
Verb
  • That gives operators the option to use the same airframe for jobs ranging from land surveys to ecological monitoring.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The gym is expansive by hotel standards, with cardio machines, strength-training equipment, and a packed schedule of daily classes ranging from yoga and barre to HIIT and spin.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on running

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about running

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