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
In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.
—
Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the batteries on the trackers would run low, and McGovern’s team would need to remove and recharge the devices, before surreptitiously replacing them.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
But for Hall, the meaning ran deeper, tied back to something far bigger than a stat sheet.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The effort prompted light scoffing, but perhaps the people who ran the network in 1997 were ahead of their time.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
With systems still down, Dana (Katherine LaNasa) calls in an old friend with experience running a low-tech ER – but not before one of Javadi’s (Shabana Azeez) patient slips through the cracks.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Protect them, and your body’s nightly repair process runs the way it’s supposed to.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Tom Steyer, who’s running for governor in California, is calling for a one-time tax on billionaires like himself.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Lammes is Austin’s oldest continuously run family business, according to KVUE.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the batteries on the trackers would run low, and McGovern’s team would need to remove and recharge the devices, before surreptitiously replacing them.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
But for Hall, the meaning ran deeper, tied back to something far bigger than a stat sheet.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The effort prompted light scoffing, but perhaps the people who ran the network in 1997 were ahead of their time.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
With systems still down, Dana (Katherine LaNasa) calls in an old friend with experience running a low-tech ER – but not before one of Javadi’s (Shabana Azeez) patient slips through the cracks.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Protect them, and your body’s nightly repair process runs the way it’s supposed to.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Tom Steyer, who’s running for governor in California, is calling for a one-time tax on billionaires like himself.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Lammes is Austin’s oldest continuously run family business, according to KVUE.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ran
Verb
-
When Smith’s throw in the dirt squirted away from shortstop Miguel Rojas, the winning run trotted in from third base.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The gray wolf howled, trotted back and forth, and gradually worked closer and closer to the nervous but fascinated caribou.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But precisely as its students triumphed, Achievement First retreated from its founding commitments.—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, retreated on the news, falling to around $104 a barrel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Austin Williams led Lockport (18-5, 1-1) with seven kills.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, while CJ McCollum, who had shaped too much of this series already, was limited to six points on 3-for-10 shooting.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Before the outbreak of its latest war with Israel in 2023, estimates of Hezbollah's military strength ranged from 30,000 to more than 50,000 operatives.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
During my stay two days after opening, guests ranged from 20-something couples to pairs in their 70s.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The agreement gave Poway a means of replacing water that flowed into the Lake Poway reservoir, said Poway Utilities Administrator Carlos Cortes.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
This dynamic flowed through to Peacock as well, where EBITDA losses were $432 million.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Their fans will have cast a nervous glance at the goal difference column after City raced into the lead at Turf Moor through Erling Haaland after five minutes.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Marlins raced out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to Xavier Edwards’ RBI double and Liam Hicks’ two-run homer, an impressive drive that cut through a cold San Francisco night.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
OpenAI leaned into the curious habit, choosing to highlight the goblin-forbidding prompt in a tweet.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Restricted diets leaned heavily on flour, milk, and potatoes, supplemented with small amounts of protein from lean meat and eggs, whereas liberal diets emphasized dairy products, vegetables, and lean meat.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Deborah Courtney drove more than two hours from from Jacksonville and noted that all citizen speakers expressed opposition.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his third home run of the season and drove in three runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.—
Richard J. Marcus,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ran. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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