running Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun (American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team
   run; running play; running game.
   
   • the defensive line braced to stop the run
   • the coach put great emphasis on running
2. noun the act of running; traveling on foot at a fast pace
   run.
   
   • he broke into a run
   • his daily run keeps him fit
3. noun the state of being in operation
   
   • the engine is running smoothly
4. noun the act of administering or being in charge of something
   
   • he has responsibility for the running of two companies at the same time
5. noun the act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track
   track.
   
6. verb move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
   run.
   
   • Don't run--you'll be out of breath
   • The children ran to the store
7. verb flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
   lam; run; head for the hills; hightail it; bunk; run away; take to the woods; scarper; escape; fly the coop; break away; scat; turn tail.
   
   • If you see this man, run!
   • The burglars escaped before the police showed up
8. verb stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point
   go; run; extend; lead; pass.
   
   • Service runs all the way to Cranbury
   • His knowledge doesn't go very far
   • My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
   • The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
9. verb direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
   operate; run.
   
   • She is running a relief operation in the Sudan
10. verb have a particular form
    go; run.
    
    • the story or argument runs as follows
    • as the saying goes...
11. verb move along, of liquids
    feed; flow; run; course.
    
    • Water flowed into the cave
    • the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
12. verb perform as expected when applied
    function; go; work; run; operate.
    
    • The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
    • Does this old car still run well?
    • This old radio doesn't work anymore
13. verb change or be different within limits
    range; run.
    
    • Estimates for the losses in the earthquake range as high as $2 billion
    • Interest rates run from 5 to 10 percent
    • The instruments ranged from tuba to cymbals
    • My students range from very bright to dull
14. verb run, stand, or compete for an office or a position
    run; campaign.
    
    • Who's running for treasurer this year?
15. verb cause to emit recorded audio or video
    play; run.
    
    • They ran the tapes over and over again
    • I'll play you my favorite record
    • He never tires of playing that video
16. verb move about freely and without restraint, or act as if running around in an uncontrolled way
    run.
    
    • who are these people running around in the building?
    • She runs around telling everyone of her troubles
    • let the dogs run free
17. verb have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
    run; incline; lean; be given; tend.
    
    • She tends to be nervous before her lectures
    • These dresses run small
    • He inclined to corpulence
18. verb be operating, running or functioning
    run.
    
    • The car is still running--turn it off!
19. verb change from one state to another
    run.
    
    • run amok
    • run rogue
    • run riot
20. verb cause to perform
    run.
    
    • run a subject
    • run a process
21. verb be affected by; be subjected to
    run.
    
    • run a temperature
    • run a risk
22. verb continue to exist
    run; die hard; prevail; endure; persist.
    
    • These stories die hard
    • The legend of Elvis endures
23. verb occur persistently
    run.
    
    • Musical talent runs in the family
24. verb carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
    execute; run.
    
    • Run the dishwasher
    • run a new program on the Mac
    • the computer executed the instruction
25. verb include as the content; broadcast or publicize
    carry; run.
    
    • We ran the ad three times
    • This paper carries a restaurant review
    • All major networks carried the press conference
26. verb carry out
    run.
    
    • run an errand
27. verb pass over, across, or through
    draw; run; guide; pass.
    
    • He ran his eyes over her body
    • She ran her fingers along the carved figurine
    • He drew her hair through his fingers
28. verb cause something to pass or lead somewhere
    run; lead.
    
    • Run the wire behind the cabinet
29. verb make without a miss
    run.
    
30. verb deal in illegally, such as arms or liquor
    black market; run.
    
31. verb cause an animal to move fast
    run.
    
    • run the dogs
32. verb be diffused
    run; bleed.
    
    • These dyes and colors are guaranteed not to run
33. verb sail before the wind
    run.
    
34. verb cover by running; run a certain distance
    run.
    
    • She ran 10 miles that day
35. verb extend or continue for a certain period of time
    run for; run.
    
    • The film runs 5 hours
36. verb set animals loose to graze
    run.
    
37. verb keep company
    run; consort.
    
    • the heifers run with the bulls to produce offspring
38. verb run with the ball; in such sports as football
    run.
    
39. verb travel rapidly, by any (unspecified) means
    run.
    
    • Run to the store!
    • She always runs to Italy, because she has a lover there
40. verb travel a route regularly
    run; ply.
    
    • Ships ply the waters near the coast
41. verb pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
    hunt down; hunt; run; track down.
    
    • Goering often hunted wild boars in Poland
    • The dogs are running deer
    • The Duke hunted in these woods
42. verb compete in a race
    race; run.
    
    • he is running the Marathon this year
    • let's race and see who gets there first
43. verb progress by being changed
    go; move; run.
    
    • The speech has to go through several more drafts
    • run through your presentation before the meeting
44. verb reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
    melt down; run; melt.
    
    • melt butter
    • melt down gold
    • The wax melted in the sun
45. verb come unraveled or undone as if by snagging
    ladder; run.
    
    • Her nylons were running
46. verb become undone
    unravel; run.
    
    • the sweater unraveled
47. adjective (of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
    
    • as mountain stream with freely running water
    • hovels without running water
48. adjective satellite continually repeated over a period of time
    
    • a running joke among us
49. adjective of advancing the ball by running
    
    • the team's running plays worked better than its pass plays
50. adjective executed or initiated by running
    
    • running plays worked better than pass plays
    • took a running jump
    • a running start
51. adjective satellite measured lengthwise
    linear.
    
    • cost of lumber per running foot
52. adjective satellite (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
    working; functional; operative.
    
    • in running (or working) order
    • a functional set of brakes

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