running
running — adjective
1. happening one after another without a break, forming a continuing series.
happening one after another without a break, forming a continuing series.
The team celebrated their third win running, a record for the club.
number + noun + running for consecutive events
Amani kept a running total of all donations during the charity event.
running total = continuously updated sum
What started as a small misunderstanding became a running joke among the staff.
running joke = recurring topic of amusement
The news channel provided running commentary throughout the election night.
For the fourth year running, the village won the best garden competition.
- running total
- running joke
- running commentary
- running battle
- running tally
- successive
more formal; used for any series of events
- consecutive
emphasises unbroken sequence, common with numbers
- straight
informal, used after numbers: 'three straight wins'
- intermittent
stopping and starting rather than continuous
- occasional
happening from time to time, not regularly repeated
Grammar Patterns
running + noun
number + time noun + running
Usage Note
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Cannot be used after 'be' as a predicate with this meaning. Common in fixed phrases like 'running total', 'running joke', 'running commentary'.
Common Mistakes
2. performed or carried out while a person is moving quickly on foot, rather than f
performed or carried out while a person is moving quickly on foot, rather than from a standing or still position.
Sora cleared the high jump bar with a running leap that amazed the crowd.
running leap = jumping while running
A running start helps you jump further than starting from a standing position.
running start = beginning while moving
Caio scored the winning goal with a running kick, sending the ball past the goalkeeper just before the halftime whistle.
running kick = kicking while in motion, not from a standstill
As a cricket fielder, Liang practised running catches every afternoon until he could grab the ball without slowing down.
- running jump
- running start
- running leap
- running kick
- running catch
- on the run
phrase rather than adjective; used for actions done while fleeing or hurrying
- in stride
phrase meaning without breaking pace, not used attributively
- stationary
not moving; done from a fixed position
- standing
done from an upright but still position
Grammar Patterns
running + noun (action)
Usage Note
Always placed before a noun. Primarily used in sports and physical activity contexts. The action described involves the body being in motion rather than stationary.
3. describing a machine, engine, or system that is currently working or functioning
describing a machine, engine, or system that is currently working or functioning, or relating to ongoing costs, basic repairs, and continuous resources that keep something operating.
Liam left the car with its engine running while he ran into the store.
engine running = operating
The running costs of the new heating system are much lower than the old one.
running costs = ongoing expenses
The ship's crew carried out running repairs while still at sea.
running repairs = basic fixes during operation
The apartment has hot running water, which is a big improvement from the old place.
Élise checked that every machine in the factory was in running order before the shift began.
- running engine
- running costs
- running repairs
- running water
- running order
- running smoothly
- working
more general, used for people and things
- operating
more technical, common in engineering contexts
- functioning
suggests performing as intended
- active
emphasises current use rather than standby
Grammar Patterns
running + noun (machine/system)
running + noun (costs/expenses)
be + running
in running order
Usage Note
Unlike the CONSECUTIVE sense, this one can be used as a predicate adjective: 'The engine is running.' When used attributively, common before 'costs', 'repairs', 'water', and 'order'.
Common Mistakes
running — adverb
1. used immediately after an expression of number and time to mean something happen
used immediately after an expression of number and time to mean something happens one after another without any break or interruption.
The book stayed on the bestseller list for twelve weeks running.
number + weeks + running = consecutively
This is the third morning running that Adina has arrived before everyone else.
Charlotte has won the swimming competition five years running.
The company reported a profit for the seventh quarter running.
- days running
- weeks running
- months running
- years running
- quarters running
- games running
- consecutively
more formal; can be placed before or after the number
- in a row
less formal, more common in spoken English
- straight
informal; 'three straight years'
- irregularly
not following a regular pattern
- sporadically
occurring at irregular intervals
Grammar Patterns
number + time noun + running
for + the + ordinal + noun + running
Usage Note
Always comes after the number and time noun — never at the beginning or middle of a sentence. Common with 'day', 'week', 'month', 'year', 'quarter'. More informal alternatives include 'in a row' and 'straight'.
Common Mistakes
running — noun
1. the activity of moving your body at a speed faster than walking, done to stay he
the activity of moving your body at a speed faster than walking, done to stay healthy, for competition, or for enjoyment.
Noor goes running along the beach every morning before breakfast.
go running = do the activity regularly
Meera runs five kilometres every evening through Riverside Park to prepare for a ten-kilometre race.
Christopher joined a running club to stay motivated during marathon training.
running club = group of people who run together
The doctor told Tunde that regular running would improve his lung function after the illness.
Beatriz prefers trail running through the Blue Mountains to running on paved roads in the city.
trail running = running on natural paths, not roads
- go running
- take up running
- running shoes
- running club
- running route
- trail running
- long-distance running
- running track
- walking
moving at a slower pace with one foot always on the ground
Grammar Patterns
go running
take up running
type + running
Usage Note
Uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a running' in this sense (use 'a run' instead for a single instance: 'I went for a run'). Often combined with another noun to specify type: 'trail running', 'long-distance running', 'road running'.
Common Mistakes
2. the work of guiding and directing the daily operations of an organisation, busin
the work of guiding and directing the daily operations of an organisation, business, system, or household.
Amani took over the running of the family farm when her parents retired.
running of [something] = managing
The smooth running of the festival depends on hundreds of volunteers working together.
smooth running = efficient operation
Vikram handles the day-to-day running of the restaurant, including staff schedules and food orders.
day-to-day running = routine management
The committee is responsible for the running of the community centre and all its programs.
- the running of [something]
- day-to-day running
- smooth running
- take over the running of
- be responsible for the running of
- management
more commonly used; broader in scope
- administration
more formal; often used for government or institutional contexts
- operation
more technical; focuses on processes and systems
- neglect
failing to give proper care or attention
- mismanagement
poor or incompetent management
Grammar Patterns
the running of + noun
day-to-day running
smooth running
Usage Note
Uncountable noun. Almost always followed by 'of' to specify what is being managed. Common in business, government, and organisational contexts. 'Day-to-day running' and 'smooth running' are very frequent collocations.
Common Mistakes
Having a chance or no chance to win or get something.
After her strong performance, Sara is in the running for the award.
Brian's injury put him out of the running for the championship.
make the running
idiomTo be the one who controls the pace or leads an activity.
In the debate, Maya made the running with her sharp questions.
The new company made the running in developing green technology.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Running is the general term for moving on foot at a pace faster than walking, used for sport, exercise, or daily travel. Jogging is a slower, more relaxed form of running, usually done at a steady pace for general fitness rather than speed or competition — someone might say 'I go jogging in the park' to emphasise light exercise. Sprinting is running at maximum effort over a short distance, requiring explosive energy and lasting only seconds — 'he sprinted the last 100 metres to catch the bus.' Racing specifically means running competitively against others in an organised event such as a marathon or a 100-metre dash. For example: 'She jogs three times a week to stay fit,' 'Usain Bolt sprinted 100 metres in under ten seconds,' and 'They are training for a marathon race in the autumn.'
Common collocations
Etymology
Running comes from the Old English word 'rinnan' and 'irnan', meaning 'to run, flow, or go quickly'. The -ing suffix turns the verb into either a noun (gerund) or an adjective (present participle). The sense of 'in operation' (a running machine) developed in the early 1500s, and the meaning 'consecutive' (three days running) appeared in the 1600s.