see also in the running, out of the running
3
a
: incessant, continuous
a running battle
a running joke/gag
b
: made during the course of a process or activity
a running commentary on the game
4
: measured in a straight line
cost of lumber per running foot
5
a
: initiated or performed while running or with a running start
a running catch
a running jump
b
: of, relating to, or being a football play in which the ball is advanced by running rather than by passing
their running game was off
c
: designed for use by runners
a running track
running shoes
6
: fitted or trained for running rather than walking, trotting, or jumping
a running horse
: in succession : consecutively
three days running
Examples of running in a Sentence
Noun
He took up running for exercise.
They go running every evening.
Adjective
Never add fuel to a running engine.
The farmer had a running battle with pests and disease.
The major television stations provided running commentaries on the election results.
She kept a running total of their expenses on the trip.
Adverb
He has won the competition three times running.
he won the championship five times running
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The Shanahan offense has evolved from the one Kyle's father, Mike, used to win back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos in the 1997-98 seasons, relying heavily on the outside running game with a heavy use of motion and play-action.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for running
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Noun
The ardent fan can’t expect this running game to produce 164 yards in its current state; the reasonable fan of any NFL team can’t expect to go 10-for-18 on third- and fourth-downs, either.
—Adjective
That means leaning on the running game, something the Patriots have done the last month.
—Cite this Entry
“Running.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/running. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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