Run — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈrən/

Meaning & Definition of Run

Run (verb)

  1. to go faster than a walk; specifically, to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step
  2. to move at a fast gallop
  3. flee, retreat, escape

Run (noun)

  1. an act or the action of running, continued rapid movement
  2. a quickened gallop
  3. a migration of fish (as up or down a river) especially to spawn; also, such fish in the process of migration

Run (adjective)

  1. being in a melted state
  2. made from molten material, cast in a mold
  3. having made a migration or spawning run

Run (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go at a pace faster than a walk

    "we ran all the way to the bus stop, but still missed the bus"

  2. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "rather than run from a black bear, it's better to hold your ground and make lots of noise"

  3. to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction

    "the road runs along the river for a while"

    similar: bear, extend, go, head, lead, lie
  4. to occur within a continuous range of variation

    "the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month"

    similar: go, range, vary
  5. to move in a stream

    "water running down the window"

    similar: flow, pour, roll, stream
    opposite: back up
  6. to proceed or move quickly

    "run and get the nurse"

    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
  7. to show a liking or proneness (for something)

    "unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness"

    similar: incline, lean, tend, trend
  8. to urge, push, or force onward

    "they ran the horses hard in order to get to the ranch quickly"

    similar: drive, herd, punch
  9. to control the mechanical operation of

    "I know how to run that machine"

    similar: handle, operate, work
  10. to eventually have as a state or quality

    "the poor woman ran herself ragged trying to care for all those children"

    similar: become, come, get, go, grow, turn, wax
  11. to go from a solid to a liquid state

    "her makeup started to run when she got in the pool"

    opposite: harden, set, solidify
  12. to look after and make decisions about

    "learning to run the family business"

  13. to cause to function

    "in olden days mills were run by flowing water"

  14. to have a price of

    "that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars"

  15. to come or be together as friends

    "he's been running with a bad crowd lately"

  16. to go after or on the track of

    "if that dog continues to run cars, he's going to get seriously hurt"

    opposite: guide, lead, pilot
    near: head

Run (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a prevailing or general movement or inclination

    "the company's stock has remained consistent with the overall run of the market"

  2. a natural body of running water smaller than a river

    "a run full of catfish"

    similar: beck (British), bourn, brook, brooklet, burn (British), creek, gill (British), rill, rivulet, runlet, runnel, streamlet
  3. the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress

    "the actor has been assigned the part for the run of the show"

  4. the right to act or move freely

    "gave the dogs the run of the place"

  5. abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools

    "with weekend guests in the house, it was no time to get the runs"

Related Entry: Ran (verb)

Ran is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for ran, not for run.

  1. to go at a pace faster than a walk

    "we ran all the way to the bus stop, but still missed the bus"

  2. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "rather than run from a black bear, it's better to hold your ground and make lots of noise"

  3. to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction

    "the road runs along the river for a while"

    similar: bore, extended, headed, lay, led, went
  4. to occur within a continuous range of variation

    "the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month"

    similar: ranged, varied, went
  5. to move in a stream

    "water running down the window"

    opposite: backed up
  6. to proceed or move quickly

    "run and get the nurse"

    opposite: crawled, crept, poked
  7. to show a liking or proneness (for something)

    "unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness"

  8. to urge, push, or force onward

    "they ran the horses hard in order to get to the ranch quickly"

    similar: drove, herded, punched
  9. to control the mechanical operation of

    "I know how to run that machine"

  10. to eventually have as a state or quality

    "the poor woman ran herself ragged trying to care for all those children"

  11. to go from a solid to a liquid state

    "her makeup started to run when she got in the pool"

    opposite: hardened, set, solidified
  12. to look after and make decisions about

    "learning to run the family business"

  13. to cause to function

    "in olden days mills were run by flowing water"

  14. to have a price of

    "that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars"

  15. to come or be together as friends

    "he's been running with a bad crowd lately"

  16. to go after or on the track of

    "if that dog continues to run cars, he's going to get seriously hurt"

    opposite: guided, led, piloted
    near: headed

Related Entry: Run (over) (verb)

Run (over) is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run (over), not for run.

  1. to make a brief visit

    "I could run over right now if that's good for you"

Related Entry: Run along (verb)

Run along is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run along, not for run.

  1. to leave a place often for another

    "I'd love to stay longer, but I must be running along"

    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up

Related Entry: Run away (verb)

Run away is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run away, not for run.

  1. to get free from a dangerous or confining situation

    "ran away from an unhappy marriage"

  2. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "the child runs away from large dogs"

Related Entry: Run-down (adjective)

Run-down is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run-down, not for run.

  1. showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect

    "a run-down old house that really should be torn down"

  2. temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body

    "I'm afraid I'll be staying home today as I'm feeling run-down"

Related Entry: Run down (verb)

Run down is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run down, not for run.

  1. to come upon after searching, study, or effort

    "finally ran down the answer after hours of research"

    opposite: miss, overlook, pass over
  2. to express scornfully one's low opinion of

    "constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it"

Related Entry: Run-in (noun)

Run-in is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run-in, not for run.

  1. a brief clash between enemies or rivals

    "the rival gangs had a bit of a run-in last night"

Related Entry: Run in (verb)

Run in is a different word from Run. The synonyms below are for run in, not for run.

  1. to make a brief visit

    "I just thought I'd run in and pick up my package"

  2. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "if we catch you shoplifting again, we're going to run you in"

    similar: apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), collar, nab, nail, nick (British slang), pick up, pinch, pull in, restrain, seize
    opposite: discharge

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Run

The most common words with a similar meaning to Run:

British: beck, burn, gill
Slang: bomb

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Run

Words with the opposite meaning of Run:

Near Antonyms of Run

Word Forms of Run

Inflections: ran, running

Derived words: runless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Run

Middle English ronnen, alteration of rinnen, intransitive verb (from Old English iernan, rinnan & Old Norse rinna) & of rennen, transitive verb, from Old Norse renna; akin to Old High German rinnan, intransitive verb, "to run," Sanskrit riṇāti "he causes to flow," and probably to Latin rivus "stream"

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Run

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs, Sports & Entertainment

Words & Phrases Containing Run

Frequently Asked Questions about Run

What does "Run" mean?

"Run" means to go faster than a walk; specifically, to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to go faster than a walk; specifically, to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step. It has 21 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Run"?

Other words for "Run" include dash, gallop, jog, scamper, sprint, trip, trot and bolt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Run" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Run"?

There are 480 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Run". Common alternatives include dash, gallop, jog, scamper, sprint, trip, trot, bolt, break and bug out.

What is the opposite of "Run"?

Antonyms of "Run" include back up, crawl, creep, poke, harden, set, solidify and cut. Near antonyms include amble, saunter, shamble and shuffle.

How do you use "Run" in a sentence?

Examples of "Run" in a sentence: "we ran all the way to the bus stop, but still missed the bus"; "rather than run from a black bear, it's better to hold your ground and make lots of noise"; "the road runs along the river for a while".

Is "Run" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Run" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Run"?

"Run" is pronounced /ˈrən/.

What is the origin of the word "Run"?

"Run" comes from Middle English ronnen, alteration of rinnen, intransitive verb (from Old English iernan, rinnan & Old Norse rinna) & of rennen, transitive verb, from Old Norse renna; akin to Old High German rinnan, intransitive verb, "to run," Sanskrit riṇāti "he causes to flow," and probably to Latin rivus "stream". First known use: before 12th centuryi.