run its course
idiom
—used to say that something begins, continues for a time, and then ends
The disease usually runs its course in a few days.
Examples of run its course in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That entire era of the Mavericks had run its course, and the major parties involved needed to leave.
—
Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2025
The Truman vision—the world as orchestra, the U.S. President as conductor—may have run its course, though; its economic underpinnings are eroding and its political costs are mounting.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
The best way to manage pet tantrums, according to Netmeds, is to allow the episode to run its course.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Related Stories From a longer-term perspective, the automation push sows some concern into how many employees will get axed through the end of 2028, when the Network of the Future plan is expected to run its course.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run its course
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2025
The Truman vision—the world as orchestra, the U.S. President as conductor—may have run its course, though; its economic underpinnings are eroding and its political costs are mounting.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
The best way to manage pet tantrums, according to Netmeds, is to allow the episode to run its course.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Related Stories From a longer-term perspective, the automation push sows some concern into how many employees will get axed through the end of 2028, when the Network of the Future plan is expected to run its course.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run its course
Cite this Entry
“Run its course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run%20its%20course. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share