3
a
: incessant, continuous
a running battle
b
: made during the course of a process or activity
a running commentary on the game
4
: measured in a straight line
cost of lumber per running foot
5
a
: initiated or performed while running or with a running start
a running catch
a running jump
b
: of, relating to, or being a football play in which the ball is advanced by running rather than by passing
their running game was off
c
: designed for use by runners
a running track
running shoes
6
: fitted or trained for running rather than walking, trotting, or jumping
a running horse
: in succession : consecutively
three days running
Synonyms
Examples of running in a Sentence
Noun
He took up running for exercise.
They go running every evening.
Adjective
Never add fuel to a running engine.
The farmer had a running battle with pests and disease.
The major television stations provided running commentaries on the election results.
She kept a running total of their expenses on the trip.
Adverb
He has won the competition three times running.
he won the championship five times running
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
The Cowboys missed out on getting a running back and will likely target that position on the final day of the draft.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot, 216-pound running back rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore, recording second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Martinez, who enjoyed hiking, running and sailing, was born in Los Angeles, California, according to his obituary.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
For more info: Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm, Key West, Fla.
Mage, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, crosses the finish line to win the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
Only two family members — both in their mid-to-late 60s — currently work for the group, which has said the next generation won’t be involved in its day-to-day running.
—Clara Hernanz Lizarraga, Fortune Europe, 25 Apr. 2024
This incident draws attention to the outsourcing of the running of 911 systems to private companies, like Lumen, causing outages to hit states even if the source of the problem is nowhere near them.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024
This started with questions about running, but seems to have morphed into other areas.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024
This running belt is versatile for most types of runners, and lengths, and offers optimal comfort.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2024
The running gag of that book was applying Victorian diction and prejudices to high-tech things.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2024
Maoyan gives a running total of RMB78.3 million since releasing on Dec. 31.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Jan. 2024
Plenty of people don’t bother with these tools, which can help with everything from tracking debt to keeping a running total of your net worth.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023
Your pager will then keep a running total of health goals for protein or calories.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 10 Nov. 2023
Dispersed campsites have no services—no running water, no vault toilets, no trash cans.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 19 Oct. 2023
Getting a running start, Woods slammed into the cameraman’s shoulder and sent him and his equipment crashing to the ground.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
Noun
Kimani Vidal — running back 5 feet 8, 213 pounds, Troy, Round 6, Pick 181
Advertisement
Notable: His father was a running back at Florida A&M in the early 1990s.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
The Cowboys missed out on getting a running back and will likely target that position on the final day of the draft.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot, 216-pound running back rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore, recording second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Martinez, who enjoyed hiking, running and sailing, was born in Los Angeles, California, according to his obituary.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
For more info: Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm, Key West, Fla.
Mage, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, crosses the finish line to win the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
Only two family members — both in their mid-to-late 60s — currently work for the group, which has said the next generation won’t be involved in its day-to-day running.
—Clara Hernanz Lizarraga, Fortune Europe, 25 Apr. 2024
This incident draws attention to the outsourcing of the running of 911 systems to private companies, like Lumen, causing outages to hit states even if the source of the problem is nowhere near them.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024
This started with questions about running, but seems to have morphed into other areas.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Adjective
For an even more remote escape, honeymooners can book one-bedroom Creek Houses that are a three-minute walk from the lodge with their own fireplaces and private patios alongside a running creek.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024
This running belt is versatile for most types of runners, and lengths, and offers optimal comfort.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2024
The running gag of that book was applying Victorian diction and prejudices to high-tech things.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2024
Maoyan gives a running total of RMB78.3 million since releasing on Dec. 31.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Jan. 2024
Plenty of people don’t bother with these tools, which can help with everything from tracking debt to keeping a running total of your net worth.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023
Your pager will then keep a running total of health goals for protein or calories.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 10 Nov. 2023
Dispersed campsites have no services—no running water, no vault toilets, no trash cans.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 19 Oct. 2023
Getting a running start, Woods slammed into the cameraman’s shoulder and sent him and his equipment crashing to the ground.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'running.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Running.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/running. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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