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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in varies
to occur within a continuous range of variation the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
7
as in tends
to show a liking or proneness (for something) unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

9
as in operates
to control the mechanical operation of I know how to run that machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

11
12
13
14
as in costs
to have a price of that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

15
16

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
The historic buildings once occupied by radio operators now house guests of Basecamp Explorer, which runs a range of Arctic adventures on Spitsbergen, the largest of Svalbard’s islands. Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 That idea of jewelry as a vessel for reinterpretation and connection between different wearers also runs throughout the exhibit. Livia Caligor, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 His public persona runs directly counter to ESPN’s stated preference for avoiding unnecessary conflict. Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The Executive Office for Immigration Review, the agency that runs the immigration courts at the DOJ, declined to comment on personnel matters in a statement Friday morning. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Running alongside another military assignment The project runs alongside another major military nuclear assignment awarded to the firm earlier this year. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026 As part of the Justice Department, the Executive Office for Immigration Review runs some 60 immigration courts and adjudication centers. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 Sebold’s was the third such attack in Thornden Park, which runs alongside the campus, in about seven months. Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026 The logo was designed by Justin Wieners with Hot Dog Designs, whose family runs Monstera’s Books in Overland Park. Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
In winning for the second time in seven games, Detroit scored more than two runs for the first time in that span. ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Perez surrendered six runs, nine hits and three walks over 4 2/3 frames for the Marlins. Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 The Unifrance Rendez-Vous runs from September 7 to 10 in Le Havre. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 Rutter donned a wetsuit for his title-winning runs, but the vast majority arrive every year resplendent in an array of fancy dress. Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Additionally, owning Imax would provide any filmmaker that signed on to work with Netflix the opportunity for premium theatrical runs. Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 According to Fielding Bible, the club ranks ninth with 36 defensive runs saved. Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 In the library, Morris & Co’s Snakeshead wall covering runs above the quarter-sawn oak paneling. Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026 Jaytn Briles had four receptions for 121 yards with Brayden Boults carrying the load at running back with 79 yards on 18 carries with scoring runs of 1 and 18 yards. Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runs
Verb
  • 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
  • Against Senegal, Odegaard casually jogs off the pitch at the near post to drag a player away from the box as Julian Ryerson delivers the corner.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Based on the legend of the Chinese goddess Chang’e, this book reimagines and expands the myth to center her daughter, Xingyin, who flees her home and embarks on a bold adventure to save her mother while training in enemy territory.
    Chloe Gong, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Holden eagerly rebels against Pencey Prep, gets the boot, and flees to New York City, a place with its own vices and hazards, but without the sort of propaganda and pretense that obscure the school’s dark underside.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • San Diego leads Arizona by a half-game in the race for the National League’s final wild-card spot.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Norman, who also leads a host of gloriously entertaining tours around London and beyond, built this show around the same idea — that even the driest elements of history become much more fun when everyone is invited to join in.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Private lenders may also offer autopay discounts, although the amount varies.
    Amy DeYoung, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Chami noted that the price for working with content creators varies from $250-$1,000 per post, and justified rates that are on the higher end of the spectrum.
    Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • They were never designed to change how work flows through a function.
    Emily Lewis-Pinnell, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But the Colorado River water that flows there from the canal will not be cut like many nearby cities.
    Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In its breathless finale, Curry races through the mansion reconstructing every murder, flinging himself through doors and corridors while maintaining the verbal precision of a stage actor performing at double speed.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Finn Gomez / Getty Images Kirkwood, who races for Andretti Global, started second but took the lead on the opening lap with a daring maneuver around the outside of pole-sitter and championship leader Alex Palou in front of the National Archives.
    Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And soil that has more carbon in it tends to be better for plants.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But the form tends to be a source of confusion and administrative burden, according to Shoemaker DeMio.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Desalination is becoming increasingly popular, especially as the climate crisis drives more severe heat and drought, undermining water security.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Rattled by the mystery of the bull, Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min), the bumbling, trigger-happy police chief of Hope Harbor, drives back into town and is confronted with a disaster zone.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Runs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runs. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster