running room
Americannoun
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the space between a racer and the nearby competitors in a running race, especially enough to run and maneuver as desired.
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the space or leeway permitting ample freedom and flexibility to operate, maneuver, or perform without impairment.
Etymology
Origin of running room
Probably earlier than 1980–85
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.
"Polls suggest he doesn't have as much running room as he did in the first 10 months," Brookings Institution senior fellow William Galston told AFP.
From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025
The urge to spend for Americans appears to have some running room even after a blowout summer.
From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2023
Yet Boston remains its own ecosystem, and Ms. Wu still appears to have some running room.
From New York Times • May 21, 2023
Quarterback Cameron Ward is often scrambling away from pressure, and running room has been limited for the Cougar tailbacks.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2022
He held Seabiscuit a half length behind him, keeping just far enough out from the rail to give himself clear running room.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
