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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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
If the offense adjusts quickly and the running game is reinvigorated with a healthy offensive line and Saquon Barkley in the new system, this will hit the over — and perhaps even easily. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The running game looks substantially better without McCaffrey with Black and James in the fold. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
Jaxsen Stokes’ running, and strong defense from sophomore linebacker Eli Zamorano also helped the Trailblazers. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 With previews that began on September 17, 2021, and an opening night on Sunday, October 3, 2021, Six has become the longest running show to ever have played the Lena Horne Theatre (formerly the Brooks Atkinson Theatre). — Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Germany’s 16 states have extensive powers, for example in overseeing security matters and running the education system. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Officials might consider reducing boat engine sizes on the Chain and the Fox River to limit running the lakes in high gear. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 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
  • Its strategy centers on a Helical Stellarator, an approach designed around continuous plasma operation.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Seek Out Stretch And Cross-Functional Opportunities Employees should adopt a continuous learning mindset.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of continuous
Noun
  • In addition to speech, our management of a localized fire for food, safety, and comfort is another uniquely human behavior, one that seems to have coincided with the development of complex spoken language.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Shelley served as the Warriors’ associate general counsel and director of business and legal affairs and risk management, and Vasquez was the vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 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
  • In 2022, Oklahoma death row inmate William Reece received three life sentences after pleading guilty to three murders in Texas, including the killing of 12-year-old Laura Smither, who was abducted while jogging near her home in Friendswood in 1997.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of jogging
Verb
  • Grichuk put a good swing on a slider while flying out to left field.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It was later revealed that the plane had been overloaded by 700 pounds and the pilot, who had cocaine and alcohol in his system, was not authorized to be flying, according to CBS.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of flying
Verb
  • Moments before, with Wells still at the plate and the Yankees leading 7-1, Flemming and color analyst Will Middlebrooks vented about Chisholm stealing second base and third base during the at-bat.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Check the leading management bestsellers and textbooks, including Gary Hamel’s Humanocracy, Eric Ries’s Incorruptible, Stephen Robbins and Mary Coulter’s Management and older classics like Michael Porter’s Competitive Strategy.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of leading
Verb
  • At the same time, the house next door to us was sold to a family with six children, ranging in age from newborn to 10 years old.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to the resort’s already extensive list of experiences—ranging from creative expression, fitness, and integrative wellbeing to outdoor adventure, yoga, and nourishment—are several new offerings.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on running

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about running

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