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: having a tendency to run: such as
a
: extremely or excessively soft and liquid
a runny dough
b
: secreting a thin flow of mucus
a runny nose
Examples of runny in a Sentence
The scrambled eggs are runny.
The pudding is runnier than I like it.
a little boy with a runny nose
My eyes felt itchy and runny.
Recent Examples on the Web
Measles is an airborne disease, and can spread rapidly in communities with low vaccination rates, and initially results in symptoms including a high fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red or watery eyes, according to the CDC.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
That’s because there are hundreds of viruses that can cause the common cold, and most healthy people with run-of-the-mill symptoms like a runny nose, congestion and fatigue don’t need testing to identify the type of virus or to distinguish between these viruses from the flu or Covid-19.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
For those with allergies, these particles can be inhaled and trigger annoying symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, or itchy eyes.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2025
One study found that taking 500 milligrams of curcumin daily for two months may improve sneezing, runny nose, itching, and congestion.2
Improve mental health: Some research suggests that curcumin doses of at least 1 gram daily can improve symptoms associated with depression.
—
Alex Yampolsky, Health, 27 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1770, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near runny
Cite this Entry
“Runny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runny. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
runny
adjective
run·ny
ˈrən-ē
runnier; runniest
1
: too soft and liquid
the scrambled eggs are runny
2
: giving off a liquid
a runny nose
Medical Definition
runny
adjective
run·ny
ˈrən-ē
: secreting a thin flow of mucus
a runny nose
More from Merriam-Webster on runny
Nglish: Translation of runny for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of runny for Arabic Speakers
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