run-on
adjective
of or designating something that is added or run on.
run-on
American
[ruhn-on, -awn]
/ ˈrʌnˌɒn, -ˌɔn /
adjective
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of or designating something that is added or run on.
a run-on entry in a dictionary.
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Prosody. (of a line of verse) having a thought that carries over to the next line, especially without a syntactical break.
noun
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run-on matter.
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Automotive. after-run.
run on
British
verb
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(intr) to continue without interruption
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to write with linked-up characters
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printing to compose text matter without indentation or paragraphing
noun
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printing
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text matter composed without indenting
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( as modifier )
run-on text matter
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a word added at the end of a dictionary entry whose meaning can be easily inferred from the definition of the headword
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( as modifier )
a run-on entry
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Etymology
Origin of run-on
First recorded in 1900–05; adj., noun use of verb phrase run on
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:
To me, when I listen, the songs feel like run-on sentences.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Andy O’Bryan, who co-founded an online group for entrepreneurs interested in AI, said he’s seen more people trying to scuff up AI-generated prose with typos or run-on sentences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
England coach Steve Borthwick has responded to the Scotland loss by making three personnel changes to his run-on side, with Henry Pollock given a first Test start after seven appearances as a replacement.
From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026
Roberts, Gorsuch, and Barrett’s questioning of Katyal was far friendlier than their grilling of Sauer, who spoke in a frothy jumble of run-on sentences that was often hard to understand.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2025
She talked like a run-on sentence, no pauses or periods.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
The company described it as “safe, secure, private,” adding that Muse would run on a digitally walled-off virtual machine that no one else’s agents can access.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Nicholas Brandram was under suspicion of being the jogger who pushed a woman into the path of a bus during a run on Putney Bridge, west London, in May 2017.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
They run on infrastructure that those people own.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
Saggese delivering the go-ahead run on an infield single.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Woman, you gonna run on down to the Foster place and tell Tom I needs him to bring a horse to hitch to this here wagon.
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
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.
