running
Americannoun
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the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs.
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managing or directing.
the running of a business.
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an act or instance of racing.
the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby.
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the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on.
Our track team had muddy running today.
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the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow.
adjective
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galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly.
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(of a horse)
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going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop.
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taught to proceed at a gallop.
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creeping or climbing, as plants.
a running vine.
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moving or proceeding easily or smoothly.
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moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope.
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slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose.
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operating or functioning, as a machine.
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(of measurement) linear; straight-line.
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cursive, as handwriting.
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flowing, as a stream.
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liquid or fluid.
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the running month.
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prevalent, as a condition or state.
running prices.
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going or carried on continuously; sustained.
a running commentary.
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extending or repeated continuously.
a running pattern.
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performed with or during a run.
a running leap.
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discharging pus or other matter.
a running sore.
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Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use.
running bowsprit;
running gaff.
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Nautical, Machinery.
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noting any block of a tackle that moves.
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noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks (opposed to standing).
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adverb
idioms
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in the running,
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participating or entered as a competitor.
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under consideration as a candidate or possible choice.
Who is still in the running for the directorship?
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among the winners or those making a good showing.
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out of the running,
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not competing in a contest or race.
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not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race.
to finish out of the running.
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adjective
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maintained continuously; incessant
a running battle
running commentary
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(postpositive) without interruption; consecutive
he lectured for two hours running
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denoting or relating to the scheduled operation of a public vehicle
the running time of a train
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accomplished at a run
a running jump
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(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
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(of a wound, sore, etc) discharging pus or a serous fluid
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denoting or relating to operations for maintenance
running repairs
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prevalent; current
running prices
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repeated or continuous
a running design
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(of certain plants, plant stems, etc) creeping along the ground
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flowing
running water
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(of handwriting) having the letters run together
noun
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management or organization
the running of a company
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operation or maintenance
the running of a machine
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competition or a competitive situation (in the phrases in the running , out of the running )
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to set the pace in a competition or race
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rare the power or ability to run
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of running
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.
Bass, running in the June 2 primary for a second and final term, faces the toughest reelection fight of her political career.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
“We are now in the process of running the line at the 47 a month rate,” Ortberg said.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Dominion’s Virginia operations are the anchor; Virginia is the world’s largest data center market, and Dominion is the utility keeping it all running.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
They are usually running away when things are too good, and then when things are down in the cycle, that’s when they get the motivation to go back in and make investments.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
The store was running advertisements in the Times.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
