/ Dictionary / Index R running: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: run•ning Pronunciation: (run'ing), [key] — n. the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs. managing or directing: the running of a business. an act or instance of racing: the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby. the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on; footing: Our track team had muddy running today. the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow. Who is still in the running for the directorship? participating or entered as a competitor. under consideration as a candidate or possible choice:Who is still in the running for the directorship? among the winners or those making a good showing. to finish out of the running. not competing in a contest or race. not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race:to finish out of the running. —adj. galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly. (of a horse) going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop. taught to proceed at a gallop. creeping or climbing, as plants: a running vine. moving or proceeding easily or smoothly. moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope. slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose. operating or functioning, as a machine. (of measurement) linear; straight-line. cursive, as handwriting. flowing, as a stream. liquid or fluid. present; current: the running month. prevalent, as a condition or state: running prices. going or carried on continuously; sustained: a running commentary. extending or repeated continuously: a running pattern. performed with or during a run: a running leap. discharging pus or other matter: a running sore. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use: running bowsprit; running gaff. noting any block of a tackle that moves. noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks (opposed to standing). —adv. in succession; consecutively: He slept badly for three nights running. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: running (Thesaurus) runner-up running back Related Content Daily Word Quiz: winsome Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language