RUNNING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does running mean? 

• RUNNING (noun)
  The noun RUNNING has 5 senses:

1. (American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team

2. the act of running; traveling on foot at a fast pace

3. the state of being in operation

4. the act of administering or being in charge of something

5. the act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track

  Familiarity information: RUNNING used as a noun is common.

• RUNNING (adjective)
  The adjective RUNNING has 6 senses:

1. (of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

2. continually repeated over a period of time

3. of advancing the ball by running

4. executed or initiated by running

5. measured lengthwise

6. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

  Familiarity information: RUNNING used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RUNNING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

run; running; running game; running play

Context example:

the coach put great emphasis on running

Hypernyms ("running" is a kind of...):

football play ((American football) a play by the offensive team)

Domain category:

American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "running"):

draw; draw play ((American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage)

end run; sweep ((American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line)

return ((American football) the act of running back the ball after a kickoff or punt or interception or fumble)

reverse ((American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction)

rush; rushing ((American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line)

Derivation:

run (run with the ball; in such sports as football)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of running; traveling on foot at a fast pace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

run; running

Context example:

his daily run keeps him fit

Hypernyms ("running" is a kind of...):

locomotion; travel (self-propelled movement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "running"):

dash; sprint (a quick run)

Derivation:

run (move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The state of being in operation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

a running engine

Hypernyms ("running" is a kind of...):

operation (the state of being in effect or being operative)

Derivation:

run (be operating, running or functioning)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of administering or being in charge of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he has responsibility for the running of two companies at the same time

Hypernyms ("running" is a kind of...):

administration; disposal (a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "running"):

administrivia (the tiresome but essential details that must be taken care of and tasks that must be performed in running an organization)

Derivation:

run (direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

running; track

Hypernyms ("running" is a kind of...):

track and field (participating in athletic sports performed on a running track or on the field associated with it)

Holonyms ("running" is a part of...):

track meet (a track and field competition between two or more teams)

Derivation:

run (compete in a race)

• RUNNING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

Context example:

hovels without running water

Similar:

gushing; pouring (flowing profusely)

jetting; spouting; spurting; squirting (propelled violently in a usually narrow stream)

Antonym:

standing ((of fluids) not moving or flowing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Continually repeated over a period of time

Context example:

a running joke among us

Similar:

continual (recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of advancing the ball by running

Context example:

the team's running plays worked better than its pass plays

Domain category:

football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)

Antonym:

passing (of advancing the ball by throwing it)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Executed or initiated by running

Context example:

a running start

Antonym:

standing (executed in or initiated from a standing position)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Measured lengthwise

Synonyms:

linear; running

Context example:

cost of lumber per running foot

Similar:

lengthways; lengthwise (running or extending in the direction of the length of a thing)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

Synonyms:

functional; operative; running; working

Context example:

a functional set of brakes

Similar:

functioning (performing or able to perform its regular function)

 Context examples 

But Pedišić said the study suggested even slightly less time spent running could produce similar benefits when it came to the risk of early death.

(Reduce Risk of Early Death with Any Amount of Running, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"We three will be ready in a minute," cried Amy, running away to wash her hands.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Finally he walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and in running his eye up and down the wall.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The studies assessed physical activity by using surveys that asked about time spent in moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activities, such as walking, running, or swimming.

(Physical activity associated with lower risk of many cancers, NIH)

“Emma, my angel!” cried Mr. Micawber, running into the room; “what is the matter?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But they had scarcely touched the sexton when they were held fast, and now there were seven of them running behind Dummling and the goose.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“If it’s a local villain there should not be much difficulty in running him down,” said Holmes with a yawn.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Some people notice: • Trouble walking or running • Trouble writing • Speech problems

(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

But such splendid running was achieved not without great trouble and vexation on the part of François.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

My blood was again running cold.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)