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 travelled
to proceed or move quickly
run and get the nurse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
10
as in turned
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 powered
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
Nate Hicks ran for two touchdowns, and Thaniel LaBrie caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a score as Bristol-Plymouth (1-1) knocked off South Shore Voke 24-20 in the Mayflower Athletic Conference.
—
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Backstage, Brock Lesnar ran into Paul Heyman.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
For starters, radio promoters and DJs did start playing female artists back to back, and Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, and Jill Scott went on to found the R&B and hip-hop touring festival Sugar Water, which ran from 2005 to 2006.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
In the contest for lieutenant governor, Senator Ghazala Hashmi holds only a narrow lead over John Reid (45%-41%), despite Governor Youngkin's unprecedented demand that Reid not run for the seat.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The inflated silhouette is a Luar signature, one that Lopez often dons on regular days running errands around town.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
There is more score-settling in the account than is typical in political books written by those who plan to run again and will once again be in search of allies.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Dobbins was the closer for Denver in Week 1, running for 37 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a win over the Titans.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
There are six monochrome colors to choose from, and the good news for shoppers who find that their pants tend to run too short or too long is that each colorway has the option to choose between a 31- or 29-inch inseam.
—Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Backstage, Brock Lesnar ran into Paul Heyman.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
For starters, radio promoters and DJs did start playing female artists back to back, and Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, and Jill Scott went on to found the R&B and hip-hop touring festival Sugar Water, which ran from 2005 to 2006.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
In the contest for lieutenant governor, Senator Ghazala Hashmi holds only a narrow lead over John Reid (45%-41%), despite Governor Youngkin's unprecedented demand that Reid not run for the seat.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The inflated silhouette is a Luar signature, one that Lopez often dons on regular days running errands around town.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
There is more score-settling in the account than is typical in political books written by those who plan to run again and will once again be in search of allies.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Dobbins was the closer for Denver in Week 1, running for 37 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a win over the Titans.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
There are six monochrome colors to choose from, and the good news for shoppers who find that their pants tend to run too short or too long is that each colorway has the option to choose between a 31- or 29-inch inseam.
—Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
The wild-eyed elk turned and trotted parallel to me.—
Jack Atcheson Sr. as told to Michael Hanback,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The final segment, reserved for special teams, gave much of the roster a breather, helmets off and tucked in hands, but then a 35-year-old tight end trotted to an empty neighboring field.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the image from 1984, Prow Knob is almost entirely surrounded by the Alsek Glacier, but by 1999, the glacier had retreated, encircling only half of the mountain.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Callas lost her voice and retreated to her mausoleum-like apartment on the Avenue Georges Mandel in Paris’ posh sixteenth arrondissement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jones, making his second start for the 49ers with Purdy still out with injury, went 27-of-41 for 284 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Sunday’s injury-riddled win.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Notably, that percentage went unchanged from the previous year.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Their reactions ranged from neutral to mildly horrified.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The acts ranged from graffiti to attempted arson to relativisation or denial of the Nazi Holocaust.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Once that issue was sorted out, my bladder finally relaxed — and the urine flowed just fine.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
-
At its core was Vitinha, his elegant playmaking at the base of midfield the classy conduit through which their intricate moves flowed.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The people advancing that grassroots energy theory tended to be electoral underperformers themselves.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Friends drove him home and tended to him during the episode, which caused Ronson to contemplate his burgeoning addiction.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The request also came on the same day a man drove a car into the gates of an FBI building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Friends drove him home and tended to him during the episode, which caused Ronson to contemplate his burgeoning addiction.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mercado, who has handled domestic violence calls, said that police should contact the victim as quickly as possible because time is of the essence in these incidents.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Roji Films and Toei present the feature, with world sales handled by EST N8 and Toei.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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