Skip to main content
run

run

211 5.5
A play where a player carries the ball instead of passing
  • noun
  • /rʌn/
  • US
translation icon : carrera
  • Why don't you make a run for it?

I was, I was coaching receivers and scripting run game stuff.

Examples

  • Almost as one, the soldiers broke into a run and hastened past without looking.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • We've gotta make a run for it!

  • McQueen's got a run on him!

  • We made two to four runs and took the minimum of the wall-clock times.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Wolf started down at a run, and the horses followed with no urging.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • We've had a good run.

  • 3 yard touchdown run, and Miami scores!

  • Anderson pushes the ball up center, looking to pass... ...trying to make his move, but instead makes a run for the...

  • Within sight of the dayroom, Pauline breaks into a run, nearly bowling a nurse over.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The quarterback made a remarkable run down the field, dodging several defenders.

Synonyms

running
vsrun
  • Jargon
119 4.3

A play where a player carries the ball instead of passing

is the shorter single term used for that play
rush
vsrun
  • Jargon
81 5.4

An attempt in football to move the ball forward by running

is more general covering any carry to gain ground
sweep
vsrun
  • Jargon
7 6.6

A play where a runner runs around the line to gain yards

is the general term for any forward carry in play
running play
vsrun
  • US
4 4.4

A play in American football where a player runs forward with the ball

is the same meaning but expressed as a shorter single word
rushing
vsrun
  • Jargon
1 4.6

A play in American football when a player runs with the ball to move forward

is broader, not limited to attacking the defensive line
end run
vsrun
  • Jargon
1 6.5

An attempt to move the ball by running around the end of the line in American football

is broader and covers any forward carry not only around the end

Antonyms

167 1.0

To throw or kick the ball to a teammate

Idioms

Something many members of the same family have

25 3.9

Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt

For a short time without thinking about long-term effects

17 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

14 6.7

A serious challenge that makes success difficult

to run on fumes
  • Informal
8 7.5

To keep working with very little energy or money left

7 5.4

Manage a group or organization strictly to keep it working well

7 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

6 4.6

To be much better than someone at doing something

Over a long time into the future

3 8.4

Talk too much and say things you should not

3 8.1

Feel sudden, strong fear or shock

To face many difficult questions or strong criticism

To do something that might lead to harm or loss

1 8.1

To feel very excited about something and then lose interest often

to run the table
  • Informal
1 7.3

Win every game or match in a series without losing any

1 7.3

To move quickly and attack often in sports or games

to run a mile
  • Informal
1 7.1

Move away quickly to avoid something you are afraid of

A score by a team while the other team controls the game

Start with basic skills before trying harder tasks

Act in a confused or uncontrolled way because of strong emotion

To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both

to run amain
  • Archaic
9.9

To move very fast on foot to get somewhere quickly

Move quickly from place to place trying to solve many urgent problems

To make someone very busy and tired with too much work

3.9

To move very fast with great energy

A stream or river that flows very little because it is dry

Work very well and smoothly after being fixed or updated

9.9

Manage and look after a business

8.5

To act in a risky way without thinking about the bad results

To support two opposite sides at the same time

Compounds

205 3.2

A long time when you see the final result of actions

169 2.3

A hit that lets the batter run all the bases and score a run

run-in
  • Informal
41 5.2

An angry argument with someone

28 3.7

A road accident where the driver leaves without stopping to help or give details

27 4.1

Lasting for a short time, not long-term

26 3.4

A period when a person, team, or company has a lot of success

26 5.4

A vehicle crash caused by a driver who leaves without helping or saying who they are

run-of-the-mill
  • Informal
24 3.3

Ordinary and not special

home run
  • Informal
20 2.5

A very successful result that achieves its goal

16 5.9

A sudden rise in prices or values over a short time

14 4.2

A complete rehearsal of a play or presentation without stopping

13 3.2

A short test to see if something works well before real use

8 4.1

A practice session before an event to check for problems

earned run
  • Specialized
7 6.3

A run charged to the pitcher when the other team makes no fielding error or passed ball

6 4.2

Happening over a long time, not just now

5 1.0

A short jog in the morning to exercise and wake up

bombing run
  • Specialized
4 7.3

The part of a plane's mission when it approaches a target and drops weapons on it

4 7.0

Many customers try to take out their money from a bank because they fear it will fail

4 2.1

A short race people run for fun or to raise money for charity

beer run
  • Informal
4 7.2

A quick trip to buy beer before a party or gathering

3 7.5

One of two major Civil War battles that took place near a creek in Virginia

earned run average
  • Specialized
3 6.5

Average number of runs a pitcher allows in nine innings, not counting runs after fielding mistakes

A sentence that joins more than one full idea without proper punctuation or connecting words

print run
  • Literature
3 3.7

The number of copies made for one edition of a magazine, book or newspaper

run batted in
  • Specialized
3 5.3

A score given to a batter when their hit lets another player reach home

2 6.1

A quick attack where the attackers leave immediately

run-time
  • Specialized
2 4.2

The time when a computer program runs on a device

An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops

end run
  • US
1 7.6

A way of avoiding a rule or decision by acting cleverly

1 4.2

A quick approach an athlete makes to gain speed before a jump or throw

ski run
  • UK
1 2.9

A slope prepared and kept for people to ski on

unearned run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

A run scored because a defensive player made a mistake, not from the batter's play

run of play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties

1 2.2

An enclosed outdoor area where chickens live and move

1 5.5

A practice test to find and fix problems before the real event

1 7.7

An indirect way to avoid a rule or problem

end run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

An attempt to move the ball by running around the end of the line in American football

press run
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A period when a printing press makes one set of newspapers or magazines

To steal something quickly and run away

6.9

A creek in northeastern Virginia where two Civil War battles took place

Chinese home run
  • Informal
9.0

A surprising and very large success

A path that many people or vehicles use regularly

A major early Civil War battle fought in July 1861 near Manassas, Virginia that the Confederate army won

6.2

An enclosed yard where chickens or ducks are kept

mine run
  • Archaic
8.4

Not special or interesting

nudie run
  • NSFW
9.9

To run naked in public as a joke or dare

rat run
  • UK
8.1

A narrow hidden path people use to go somewhere faster

run-of-the-mine
  • Informal
7.2

Common and not special

run-time error
  • Specialized
5.5

A problem that happens while a program is running because of wrong data or bad instructions

pit run
  • Specialized
7.9

Gravel taken directly from a pit or quarry with mixed stone sizes

pit-run gravel
  • Specialized
7.4

A loose mix of small stones and sand taken from a gravel pit and used as is

tip-and-run
  • Jargon
8.6

A brief attack followed by a rapid retreat

split run
  • Jargon
8.1

A set of newspaper or magazine copies with some pages changed for different areas

Surface Forms

run singular
runs plural

Etymology

Run in football comes from the verb meaning 'move on foot', so a 'run' play is one where a player carries the ball and moves forward by running.