running
the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs.
managing or directing: the running of a business.
an act or instance of racing: the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby.
the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on: Our track team had muddy running today.
the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow.
galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly.
(of a horse)
going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop.
taught to proceed at a gallop.
creeping or climbing, as plants: a running vine.
moving or proceeding easily or smoothly.
moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope.
slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose.
operating or functioning, as a machine.
(of measurement) linear; straight-line.
cursive, as handwriting.
flowing, as a stream.
liquid or fluid.
prevalent, as a condition or state: running prices.
going or carried on continuously; sustained: a running commentary.
extending or repeated continuously: a running pattern.
performed with or during a run: a running leap.
discharging pus or other matter: a running sore.
Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use: running bowsprit;running gaff.
Nautical, Machinery.
noting any block of a tackle that moves.
noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks (opposed to standing).
in succession; consecutively: He slept badly for three nights running.
Idioms about running
in the running,
participating or entered as a competitor.
under consideration as a candidate or possible choice: Who is still in the running for the directorship?
among the winners or those making a good showing.
out of the running,
not competing in a contest or race.
not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race: to finish out of the running.
Origin of running
1Other words from running
- well-running, adjective
Words Nearby running
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use running in a sentence
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.
Predictions for Super Bowl LV: Lots of scoring, plus a concern for Patrick Mahomes | John Clayton | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostHere 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.
Washington Football Team president: I don’t think our name is “that weird” | Jeff Tracy | January 31, 2021 | AxiosThis year is the 59th running of a race that has become, unofficially at least, the start of the year's racing season for many.
An electric race car has lapped Daytona for the first time | Jonathan M. Gitlin | January 31, 2021 | Ars Technica
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.
‘We Out Here’: Inside the New Black Travel Movement | Charlise Ferguson | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThere he gave orders for the car to be put into running condition for the following morning, and returned to the hotel.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeThe cantonment was split into two sections by an irregular ravine, or nullah, running east and west.
The Red Year | Louis TracyFather Gaspara was about to ask another question, when Ramona appeared in the doorway, flushed with running.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonAfter the Reserve Banks have been in operation long enough to be running smoothly, not a few branches will doubtless be organized.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur PhillipsThe fire along the three miles front is like the rumble of an express train running over fog signals.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
British Dictionary definitions for running
/ (ˈrʌnɪŋ) /
maintained continuously; incessant: a running battle; running commentary
(postpositive) without interruption; consecutive: he lectured for two hours running
denoting or relating to the scheduled operation of a public vehicle: the running time of a train
accomplished at a run: a running jump
(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
(of a wound, sore, etc) discharging pus or a serous fluid
denoting or relating to operations for maintenance: running repairs
prevalent; current: running prices
repeated or continuous: a running design
(of certain plants, plant stems, etc) creeping along the ground
flowing: running water
(of handwriting) having the letters run together
management or organization: the running of a company
operation or maintenance: the running of a machine
competition or a competitive situation (in the phrases in the running, out of the running)
make the running to set the pace in a competition or race
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with running
In addition to the idioms beginning with running
- running on empty
- running start
also see:
- hit the ground running
- in the running
- meter is running
- off and running
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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