runs 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of run
1
2
3
as in leads
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 varies
to occur within a continuous range of variation the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month

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5
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7
as in tends
to show a liking or proneness (for something) unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

8
as in drives
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 operates
to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

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10
as in becomes
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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14
as in costs
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

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runs

2 of 2

noun

plural of run
as in diarrhea
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools with weekend guests in the house, it was no time to get the runs

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 runs
Verb
One of the novel’s sharpest scenes comes when Ellen calls and Ruby, hearing urgency in her voice, runs automatically through the house to find better signal. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026 Southeast Asia's wet season generally runs from June to October, when rains usually replenish reservoirs, cool overheated cities and supply water for irrigation ahead of the next planting season. — Edna Tarigan, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026 The nephew of late music star Dolly Parton who served as her longtime head of security confirms he was fired after her death, and said a restraining order has been requested against him by the corporation that runs Parton's entertainment empire. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Which is why researchers from Maynooth University in Ireland have turned to the very chemistry of life to develop a novel kind of computer that runs without a constant supply of electricity. — Mike McRae 22, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026 The film centers on Layal, who runs a women-only gas station in Yemen which is a safe haven during the country’s civil war. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026 Spence runs Chapter One with support from Jo Evans, director of production. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026 Technology changes systems, but only leadership can change the mindset that runs those systems. — Deepali Kaushik, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Several pieces could easily remain in rotation throughout fall, particularly if your taste already runs moody, maximalist, or a little eccentric. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
Over time, a ban could cut refinery runs and tighten supplies of other fuels including gasoline. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2026 The Practical Economics of Alternative Mobility Taking a car on short local runs – whether running quick errands, commuting across town, or heading to a local transit station – comes with hidden overheads. — New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026 After three Walker runs failed to get into the end zone, Mahomes waved off the kicking team. — Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Alan Roden hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high four runs, and Dean Kremer yielded one hit over six stellar innings in the Minnesota Twins’ 8-0 victory over the Angels on Sunday. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 And naturally, the festival also serves as something of a springboard for those nail-biting awards runs. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 That said, in the more demanding runs of Cyberpunk 2077, where the resolution was higher, and features like ray tracing were cranked up, the Mac Studio still came out on top. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026 Young allowed two runs and struck out a career-high nine in six innings. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 In 592 plate appearances, TJ Rumfield has hit 15 long balls, tallied 69 RBIs and scored 62 runs. — Data Skrive, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runs
Verb
  • When a review begins, the referee jogs straight to a pitchside monitor.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • First inning, Shohei Ohtani walks, steals second, jogs to third on a single by Freddie Freeman, scores on a grounder by Mookie Betts.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cora, the granddaughter of a woman kidnapped from West Africa and sold into slavery, flees her captor’s plantation, plunging her into the book’s alternate steampunk reality where she is pursued by the merciless slave catcher Ridgeway.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
  • As the dust settles, John flees, but Zoe comes with a gun to finish off Hal in the rubble.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Toney, who caught a team-high 12 passes for 114 yards on Friday and leads UM with 28 catches, 444 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, was also banged up with an undisclosed injury and limited in the second half.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In the National League, Philadelphia leads Arizona by four games for the final wild card, so anyone rooting for chaos this coming week may be disappointed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In Aidaya, the minimum ticket price, which varies by outlets, is set at 1,000 yen.
    — Masayuki Oi Japan News, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Whatever kills all those fawns varies depending on the habitat type, presence of predators, and weather conditions.
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The wine flows early and frequently; the atmosphere is laid-back and convivial; there’s more likely than not some sort of pasta in your future.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That limits scientists' understanding of how the plasma in these jets flows.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Supra is one of the vehicles most closely associated with Walker’s Fast & Furious character, Brian O’Conner, who builds and races a bright orange version of the A80 in the first installment of the popular movie franchise.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Europe races to scale The political tensions come as Europe’s commercial space industry is gathering momentum.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Penix also tends to throw for more yards and touchdowns while turning the ball over less and taking fewer sacks.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Around the spring and autumn equinoxes, geomagnetic activity tends to increase thanks in part to the Russell-McPherron effect.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • For many in the industry, a tentpole feature is one that costs more than $100 million to produce, often exceeding $200 million or $250 million, and that drives significant traffic to movie theaters.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond the gore, there’s room to explore who these people are and what drives them.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Runs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runs. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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