Showing results for "running"

• present participle of run.

running

American  

[ruhn-ing] / ˈrʌn ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs.

2. managing or directing.

   the running of a business.

3. an act or instance of racing.

   the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby.

4. the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on.

   Our track team had muddy running today.

5. the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow.

---

adjective

1. galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly.

2. (of a horse)

   1. going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop.

   2. taught to proceed at a gallop.

3. creeping or climbing, as plants.

   a running vine.

4. moving or proceeding easily or smoothly.

5. moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope.

6. slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose.

7. operating or functioning, as a machine.

8. (of measurement) linear; straight-line.

9. cursive, as handwriting.

10. flowing, as a stream.

11. liquid or fluid.

12. present; current.

    the running month.

13. prevalent, as a condition or state.

    running prices.

14. going or carried on continuously; sustained.

    a running commentary.

15. extending or repeated continuously.

    a running pattern.

16. performed with or during a run.

    a running leap.

17. discharging pus or other matter.

    a running sore.

18. Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use.

    running bowsprit;

    running gaff.

19. Nautical, Machinery.

    1. noting any block of a tackle that moves.

    2. noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks (opposed to standing).

adverb

1. in succession; consecutively.

   He slept badly for three nights running.

idioms

1. in the running,

   1. participating or entered as a competitor.

   2. under consideration as a candidate or possible choice.

      Who is still in the running for the directorship?

   3. among the winners or those making a good showing.

2. out of the running,

   1. not competing in a contest or race.

   2. not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race.

      to finish out of the running.

running British  

/ ˈrʌnɪŋ /

adjective

1. maintained continuously; incessant

   a running battle

   running commentary

2. (postpositive) without interruption; consecutive

   he lectured for two hours running

3. denoting or relating to the scheduled operation of a public vehicle

   the running time of a train

4. accomplished at a run

   a running jump

5. (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

6. (of a wound, sore, etc) discharging pus or a serous fluid

7. denoting or relating to operations for maintenance

   running repairs

8. prevalent; current

   running prices

9. repeated or continuous

   a running design

10. (of certain plants, plant stems, etc) creeping along the ground

11. flowing

    running water

12. (of handwriting) having the letters run together

---

noun

1. management or organization

   the running of a company

2. operation or maintenance

   the running of a machine

3. competition or a competitive situation (in the phrases in the running , out of the running )

4. to set the pace in a competition or race

5. rare the power or ability to run

running More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing running

• hit the ground running
• in the running
• meter is running
• off and running

---

Other Word Forms

• well-running
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of running

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; run + -ing ¹

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

running

Tight end Terrance Ferguson and running back Ronnie Rivers also are on track to be activated from injured reserve, McVay said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Haas also suggested running the numbers on the 5.75% rate with other tools, like 5-year CDs or term bonds.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

"We just want to be left alone and enjoy running."

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on Thursday on four people and 41 companies tied to the Prince Group, a Cambodian firm accused of running a billion-dollar scam operation.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Mutti told him and told him that Marlene would just keep on running, that she would be terrified, that no one would be able to catch her, except one of us.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• constant
• functioning
• working

---