51Թ

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View synonyms for

running

[ruhn-ing]

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 (standing ).

adverb

  1. in succession; consecutively.

    He slept badly for three nights running.

running

/ ˈʌɪŋ /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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. rarethe power or ability to run

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • well-running adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of running1

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

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.

In addition to the idioms beginning with running, also see hit the ground running; in the running; meter is running; off and running.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Unlike the golden age of twee, dancing in the street and running into the arms of the one person you love aren’t enough for a happy ending.

From

With the 2026 World Cup as his main goal, the plan is to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge once he arrives.

From

Care keeps Wales running, it said, but many of those providing the care were struggling financially, had poor health and wellbeing and had to cut back on food and heating.

From

It came amid six waves of Iranian attacks overnight - launched in response to large-scale Israeli air strikes on Iran - that sent millions of people running for shelter.

From

The King, who is still undergoing his own treatment for cancer, rode in the carriage for the second year running rather than riding on horseback.

From

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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.

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