variants
also chiefly dialectal run
1
as in trotted
to go at a pace faster than a walk
we ran all the way to the bus stop, but still missed the bus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreated
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
5
as in flowed
to move in a stream
water running down the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly
run and get the nurse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in operated
to control the mechanical operation of
I know how to run that machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in became
to eventually have as a state or quality
the poor woman ran herself ragged trying to care for all those children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in melted
to go from a solid to a liquid state
her makeup started to run when she got in the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in managed
to look after and make decisions about
learning to run the family business
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in triggered
to cause to function
in olden days mills were run by flowing water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in cost
to have a price of
that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars
Synonyms & Similar Words
15
as in traveled
to come or be together as friends
he's been running with a bad crowd lately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
16
as in chased
to go after or on the track of
if that dog continues to run cars, he's going to get seriously hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ran
What wasn’t in the plan was that Durkin, who’s also a baseball player for the Eagles, would suffer a minor groin injury running the bases during Monday’s 7-6 win over Homewood-Flossmoor.
—
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Kelly, a four-year starter for South Lake, showed his ability to run the football and gained over 60 yards in the first game.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
His grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who is running for Congress, never hesitates to remind audiences of his lineage.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
But the Sun managed to keep pace running undersized lineups, getting outscored just 20-18 in the quarter.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Mary Lovelace O’Neal, whose gestural abstractions consistently ran against the grain, defying the demands placed upon Black painters by critics and artists alike, died on Sunday in Mérida, Mexico.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
In addition to walking and running, activities like swimming and cycling can help improve cardiorespiratory fitness.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 13 May 2026
That’s a lot of models to run – on finance, audience, etc.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 13 May 2026
Even the power output was illegally altered to keep everything up and running inside, police said.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Kelly, a four-year starter for South Lake, showed his ability to run the football and gained over 60 yards in the first game.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
His grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who is running for Congress, never hesitates to remind audiences of his lineage.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
But the Sun managed to keep pace running undersized lineups, getting outscored just 20-18 in the quarter.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Mary Lovelace O’Neal, whose gestural abstractions consistently ran against the grain, defying the demands placed upon Black painters by critics and artists alike, died on Sunday in Mérida, Mexico.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
In addition to walking and running, activities like swimming and cycling can help improve cardiorespiratory fitness.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 13 May 2026
That’s a lot of models to run – on finance, audience, etc.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 13 May 2026
Even the power output was illegally altered to keep everything up and running inside, police said.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
The Household Cavalry, on dark horses and with brightly shining breastplates, trotted past, jingling like a cutlery drawer.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
So when Lozano trotted onto a pitch in Indio in a public preseason match involving San Diego FC, the serenading began.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Over the last four years, carriers have retreated from the state entirely or have paused writing new policies.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
In an attempt to spark inspiration for a new Little Death origin story, Kris pays a visit to the present-day Billy, played by a regal, knowing Gillian Anderson, who retreated from public life after that first installment and whom Kris hopes to persuade to appear in her reboot.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors allege Saab led a yearslong scheme beginning around 2015 to defraud a humanitarian program intended to provide food to impoverished Venezuelans.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
That attention ultimately led Carabes to launch an online fundraising campaign, where hundreds of people contributed.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
His excuses ranged from being too cold, to not having his phone or watch on him, to being a chill person who doesn’t like to show up early to the tee.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
During a recent experience, the eight mini games ranged from trivia to stacking foam blocks and from Nerf dart shooting to spinning a giant wheel for points.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Fringe flowed from the sleeves and the dress’ skirt for a heavy effect that exuded the textural elements incorporated in Givenchy’s fall 2026 ready-to-wear showcase.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
-
Together, all of those developments deepened class and regional inequalities, as capital flowed away from workers in the industrial hinterland toward financial centers like New York.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Lee became the first Giants hitter to be credited with one against the Dodgers since 1981, when Larry Herndon raced around the bases against Fernando Valenzuela at Candlestick Park.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The sound was moving, and Larry raced for our plane and turned on the emergency transmitter.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The court said the congressional map enacted in Louisiana in 2021 leaned too heavily on race when redrawing the state's voting boundaries to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.—
Aaron Navarro,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
The pair also leaned into the rumors of their off-screen romance.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Rowles, meanwhile, contributed a sharp single that drove in a run during an eight-run first inning.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The Union pushed up the pitch quickly to find an unmarked Bender, who drove a low shot past the outstretched fingers of Maxime Crépeau to level the match at 3-3 in the 79th minute, setting the stage for Ojeda’s last-minute winner.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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