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running time

American  

noun

  1. Movies. the length or duration, usually expressed in minutes, of a feature film.

    The running time of the average film is 90–100 minutes.


Etymology

Origin of running time

First recorded in 1950–55


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 final instalment of the Heartstopper saga was originally set to be released as a fourth series, but despite a shorter running time, each individual's storyline is still handled with care.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

I’ve also seen much younger viewers cringe at the suggestion of staring at anything rendered in gray scale that has a running time longer than a “Twilight Zone” episode.

From Salon ● May 8, 2026

The characters number four, although only two are prominent during the play’s 90-minute running time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

With only Rockwell on screen for most of its running time, “Moon” makes being stranded in space feel less like a physical problem than a psychological one.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

The Peruvian steamer from the west arrives at Pebas on the sixteenth of each month; fare to Tabatinga, $15 gold; time, four days; running time, eleven hours.

From The Andes and the Amazon Across the Continent of South America by James Orton

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