runner

American  

[ruhn-er] / ˈrʌn ər /

noun

• runners
  plural

1. a person, animal, or thing that runs, especially as a racer.

2. a messenger.

3. a messenger of a bank or brokerage house.

4. Baseball. base runner.

5. Football. the ball-carrier.

6. a person whose business it is to solicit patronage or trade.

7. a person acting as collector, agent, or the like, for a bank, broker, etc.

8. something in or on which something else runs or moves.

9. either of the long, bladelike strips of metal or wood on which a sled or sleigh slides.

10. the blade of an ice skate.

11. the rotating system of blades driven by the fluid passing through a reaction turbine.

12. the rotating member of a pair of millstones.

13. a roller on which something moves along.

14. Furniture.

    1. a sliding piece, as a loper.

    2. rocker.

15. an operator or manager, as of a machine.

16. a long, narrow rug, suitable for a hall or passageway.

17. a long, narrow strip of line, embroidery, lace, or the like, placed across a table.

18. Botany.

    1. a slender stolon that runs along the surface of the ground and sends out roots and leaves at the nodes, as in the strawberry.

    2. a plant that spreads by such stems.

19. Metallurgy. any of the channels through which molten metal flows.

20. a smuggler.

21. a vessel engaged in smuggling.

22. a person who takes, transmits, and often pays off bets for a bookmaker or a numbers pool.

23. Ichthyology. a jurel, Caranx crysos, inhabiting waters from Cape Cod to Brazil.

24. Building Trades. a horizontal longitudinal timber resting upon the uprights of a staging and supporting the footing pieces.

25. Theater. a piece of carpet or matting placed in the wings for deadening offstage sounds.

26. a tackle or part of a tackle consisting of a line rove through a single block and fixed at one end.

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runner British  

/ ˈrʌnə /

noun

1. a person who runs, esp an athlete

2. a messenger for a bank or brokerage firm

3. an employee of an art or antique dealer who visits auctions to bid on desired lots

4. a person engaged in the solicitation of business

5. a person on the run; fugitive

6. 1. a person or vessel engaged in smuggling; smuggler

   2. ( in combination )

      a rum-runner

7. a person who operates, manages, or controls something

8. 1. either of the strips of metal or wood on which a sledge runs

   2. the blade of an ice skate

9. a roller or guide for a sliding component

10. a channel through which molten material enters a casting or moulding

11. the rotating element of a water turbine

12. another name for running belay

13. any of various carangid fishes of temperate and tropical seas, such as Caranx crysos ( blue runner ) of American Atlantic waters

14. botany

    1. a slender stem with very long internodes, as of the strawberry, that arches down to the ground and propagates by producing roots and shoots at the nodes or tip

    2. a plant that propagates in this way

15. a strip of lace, linen, etc, placed across a table, dressing table, etc for protection and decoration

16. a narrow rug or carpet, as for a passage

17. another word for rocker

18. slang to run away in order to escape trouble or to avoid paying for something

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runner Scientific  

/ rŭn′ər /

1. A slender stem that grows horizontally and puts down roots to form new plants. Strawberries spread by runners.

2. Also called stolon

3. Compare bulb corm rhizome tuber

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• runners
  plural

Etymology

Origin of runner

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at run, -er ¹

Explanation

If you jog every morning or run with your school's cross country team, you're a runner. A runner is a person who runs. A casual runner jogs around the block or chases their dog on the beach. If you train to run in the Olympics, you're also a runner, and if you play baseball, you're a runner when you're moving from first to second base. Plants send out something also called a runner — a new shoot that sits on top of the ground and roots itself there. A strip of carpet down the hall or stairs is yet another kind of runner.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

runner runners

Brophy is described by the Missing in America Network as a seasoned hiker, runner and world traveler.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

As a competitive runner, Julian Flieller relied on human coaches to time his splits and manage his training regime.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Take, for example, a runner whose preparation for a race has gone perfectly and who is confident and raring to go.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Woods’ mark likely will be tested by another runner, although someone else her age and gender completing the Via Alpina in fewer than 29 days would be a challenging feat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

Not like a gym-class monster-dodgeball runner, like flying away from an ear-piercing wail that rings through the classroom and hallways, vibrating the entire school and every inch of Axel’s body.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

“I was feeling pretty good out there. So even after letting runners on the bases, I just tried to focus and then take it one hitter at a time.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

They continued: "A beautiful Sydney skyline brings the course to life, featuring the landmarks runners will experience along the way - starting with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the world-famous Sydney Opera House."

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

But a number of frustrated runners voiced concerns online after the race, noting that the distance on their GPS running watches was over 26.22 miles.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Given the average age of runners is over 40, Fabre said he expects people to behave well and be safe on the course to enjoy the beautiful landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The fastest runners in the village train to “bring the lion.”

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau

Related Words

• contestant
• entrant
• hurdler
• marathoner
• racer
• sprinter