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View synonyms for running

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

/ ˈrʌnɪŋ /

adjective

  1. maintained continuously; incessant

    running commentary

    a running battle

  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


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
    make the running to set the pace in a competition or race
  5. rare.
    the power or ability to run

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Other Words From

  • well-running adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of running1

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

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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

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Example Sentences

He’ll likely use more Cover-3 than Cover-1 this time in an effort to limit big pass plays, but because of Hill’s speed and constantly improving route-running, it’s almost impossible to keep him under 100 yards in a big game.

Here in Santa Fe, my favorite running routes often have frozen northern aspects and completely dry southern ones.

The Chiefs could use an effective running game to take some pressure off their injury-ravaged offensive line in pass protection.

Wright played in the league from 2004-10 as a running back for the Falcons, Browns and Cardinals, serving as the Cardinals' union rep during the 2011 lockout before retiring.

From Axios

This year is the 59th running of a race that has become, unofficially at least, the start of the year's racing season for many.

The running machines are a gloomy chorus of heavy-footed stomping.

Several Republicans won primaries in 2014 by running as ideologically pure conservatives who wanted new leadership in the House.

But the ads are not just intended to remind the Google-curious that Paul exists and is thinking about running for president.

AIDS insanity:  When running for the US Senate in 1992, Huckabee called for a quarantine of people who had AIDS.

A running joke inside the tribe is that the group is like that club with a hundred people waiting outside to get in.

There he gave orders for the car to be put into running condition for the following morning, and returned to the hotel.

The cantonment was split into two sections by an irregular ravine, or nullah, running east and west.

Father Gaspara was about to ask another question, when Ramona appeared in the doorway, flushed with running.

After the Reserve Banks have been in operation long enough to be running smoothly, not a few branches will doubtless be organized.

The fire along the three miles front is like the rumble of an express train running over fog signals.

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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.

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