Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

running

[ ruhn-ing ]

noun

  1. the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs.
  2. managing or directing:

    the running of a business.

  3. an act or instance of racing:

    the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby.

  4. the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on:

    Our track team had muddy running today.

  5. the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow.


adjective

  1. galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly.
  2. (of a horse)
    1. going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop.
    2. taught to proceed at a gallop.
  3. creeping or climbing, as plants:

    a running vine.

  4. moving or proceeding easily or smoothly.
  5. moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope.
  6. slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose.
  7. operating or functioning, as a machine.
  8. (of measurement) linear; straight-line.
  9. cursive, as handwriting.
  10. flowing, as a stream.
  11. liquid or fluid.
  12. the running month.

  13. prevalent, as a condition or state:

    running prices.

  14. going or carried on continuously; sustained:

    a running commentary.

  15. extending or repeated continuously:

    a running pattern.

  16. performed with or during a run:

    a running leap.

  17. discharging pus or other matter:

    a running sore.

  18. Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use:

    running bowsprit;

    running gaff.

  19. Nautical, Machinery.
    1. noting any block of a tackle that moves.
    2. noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks ( standing ).

adverb

  1. in succession; consecutively:

    He slept badly for three nights running.

running

/ ˈʌɪŋ /

adjective

  1. maintained continuously; incessant

    a running battle

    running commentary

  2. postpositive without interruption; consecutive

    he lectured for two hours running

  3. denoting or relating to the scheduled operation of a public vehicle

    the running time of a train

  4. accomplished at a run

    a running jump

  5. (of a knot) sliding along the rope from which it is made, so as to form a noose which becomes smaller when the rope is pulled
  6. (of a wound, sore, etc) discharging pus or a serous fluid
  7. denoting or relating to operations for maintenance

    running repairs

  8. prevalent; current

    running prices

  9. repeated or continuous

    a running design

  10. (of certain plants, plant stems, etc) creeping along the ground
  11. flowing

    running water

  12. (of handwriting) having the letters run together
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. management or organization

    the running of a company

  2. operation or maintenance

    the running of a machine

  3. competition or a competitive situation (in the phrases in the running , out of the running )
  4. make the running
    to set the pace in a competition or race
  5. rare.
    the power or ability to run
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ɱ-ܲnԲ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of running1

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; run + -ing 1
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in the running,
    1. participating or entered as a competitor.
    2. under consideration as a candidate or possible choice:

      Who is still in the running for the directorship?

    3. among the winners or those making a good showing.
  2. out of the running,
    1. not competing in a contest or race.
    2. not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race:

      to finish out of the running.

More idioms and phrases containing running

  • hit the ground running
  • in the running
  • meter is running
  • off and running
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The 17-year-old said: "How many people can say they spent their 18th birthday running the London Marathon? It's going to feel like a massive achievement for me once it's all done."

From

The pick doubled down on offensive firepower after the team took running back Omarion Hampton in the first round with the 22nd pick Thursday.

From

With the state running out of its current combination of license plate numbers and letters, California plans to launch a new license plate sequence for newly registered vehicles starting next year.

From

It is likely the bill will receive Royal Assent and become law, with the scheme possibly up and running by 2027.

From

Executive editor Tanya Simon, who is running the program on an interim basis, is the daughter of the late Bob Simon, a well-known correspondent for the program.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


runner-uprunning back