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
Derived 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.
The U.S. stepped up exports of crude and also of products such as diesel, gasoline and jet fuels, with refineries running at the top of their capacity.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
But supply of memory chips is also running short due to booming demand from AI systems in data centers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
This is when panic set in, and he threw on a T-shirt and sliders, running out of his house and across the road to the house which had been struck by lightning.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
When I’m not working, I’m just dad and school running and that kind of thing.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Mutti was running alongside them, calling all the while for Karli to wake up.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
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.
