sprint
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a short race at full speed.
-
a burst of speed at any point during a long race, as near the finish line.
-
a brief spell of great activity.
-
a short work cycle of fixed length during which specific goals, tasks, etc., need to be completed by a team: often used in agile development.
noun
-
athletics a short race run at top speed, such as the 100 metres
-
a fast finishing speed at the end of a longer race, as in running or cycling, etc
-
any quick run
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sprintsimple
-
sprintssimple
-
have sprintedperfect
-
has sprintedperfect
-
am sprintingprogressive
-
are sprintingprogressive
-
is sprintingprogressive
-
have been sprintingperfect progressive
-
has been sprintingperfect progressive
Past
-
sprintedsimple
-
had sprintedperfect
-
was sprintingprogressive
-
were sprintingprogressive
-
had been sprintingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sprint
First recorded in 1560–70; perhaps continuing Old English sprintan (unrecorded; compare gesprintan “to emit”); cognate with Old Norse spretta, Old High German sprinzan “to jump up”
Explanation
When you run really fast, you sprint. You and your sister might sprint to the bus stop, racing to see who can get there first. In the sport of track and field, a sprint is a short race that's run at top speed the whole way. Two professional cyclists also sprint when they race on bikes that start out side-by-side. If you notice a swarm of angry wasps heading your direction, you can sprint indoors, hoping you move faster than they do. Sprint has a Scandinavian root, possibly the Old Norse word spretta, "to jump up."
Vocabulary lists containing sprint
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from the Poem “Touchscreen” by Marshall Davis Jones
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The startup has said it has a single goal: a “straight-shot” research sprint to what he dubbed “safe superintelligence”—industry speak for AI that can do whatever humans can do, without threatening humanity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The famous final stage, which for the overall contenders is an unchallenged formality, typically becomes a flat bunch sprint.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Since then, the company he co-founded, now named CoreWeave, has been in a sprint to build a new AI-native cloud.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
They always said it would be a marathon, not a sprint, and I am incredibly proud of what they have done.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Once we’re back at the lobby, me and Dylan sprint back to the elevators.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
He is averaging just 2.7 sprints per match, compared to 5.3 just four years ago.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The kid known for his electric speed ranks only ninth in total sprints on his own team and his average speed has been below his teammate Aymeric Laporte’s—even though Laporte is a central defender.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Hamilton out-qualified Leclerc only seven times last year across all qualifying sessions, over 24 grands prix and six sprints.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
“Reminders of Him” could use a little more swooning, a little less of the endless middle stretch of driving and talking, interrupted by wet sprints through thunderstorms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
Coach West does have us do some sprints, and that helps a little even though I’m not one of the fastest kids.
From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée
A couple walking along the beach sprinted out of the way as the small plane dropped down, Griffin said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Springboks took advantage of the alterations when another loose kick was worked to wing Williams who sprinted away for the bonus-point try.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
He sprinted back on defense and blocked a shot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
Mads Pedersen sprinted clear from a breakaway to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France as defending champion Tadej Pogacar lost the yellow jersey and slipped to fourth.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
He spotted the exit and sprinted toward it, but a figure loomed in front of him—a woman in robes of dry swirling earth, her face covered in a veil of dust.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
One of the most haunting shots is Odysseus sprinting out of Hades chased by an army of the dead who regret following him into battle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
No player in Serie A covered more distance at sprinting speed during his loan spell at Cagliari.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Forward Folarin Balogun, who scored twice against Paraguay, tore apart the Australian defense by sprinting past a defender down the left side and sending in a cross that turned into an own goal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
You are standing in line alongside everyone else, daydreaming about whatever, when, out of the corner of your eye, you see a few men sprinting down the street in the opposite direction.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
My heart went from sprinting to a standstill.
From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda
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.
