1
2
a
b
: one that smuggles or distributes illicit or contraband goods (such as drugs, liquor, or guns)
3
: any of several large vigorous carangid fishes
4
a
: either of the longitudinal pieces on which a sled or sleigh slides
b
: the part of a skate that slides on the ice : blade
c
: the support of a drawer or a sliding door
5
a
: an elongated horizontal stem arising from the base of a plant
especially
: stolon sense 1a
b
: a plant (such as a strawberry) that forms or spreads by means of runners
c
: a twining vine (such as a scarlet runner bean)
6
a
: a long narrow carpet for a hall or staircase
b
: a narrow decorative cloth cover for a table or dresser top
7
: an adjustable backstay running from mast to rail on a sail boat or ship
8
: a running shot in basketball
Examples of runner in a Sentence
The runner slid into third base.
sent a runner to tell them that all was ready for the feast
Recent Examples on the Web
There were two runners aboard and again the Royals were held scoreless.
—
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
The tassels on either end of the runner only add to the farmhouse look.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Martin Sharp, an multi-award winning fitness and lifestyle coach, who ran three marathons in 14 days last year spoke to Newsweek about the importance of foot care for long distance runners.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Banks Machine-Washable Spice / Blue Runner Brown, blue, and tan are the vibrant stars of this 52-percent-off runner.
—Clint Davis, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
The tassels on either end of the runner only add to the farmhouse look.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Martin Sharp, an multi-award winning fitness and lifestyle coach, who ran three marathons in 14 days last year spoke to Newsweek about the importance of foot care for long distance runners.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Banks Machine-Washable Spice / Blue Runner Brown, blue, and tan are the vibrant stars of this 52-percent-off runner.
—Clint Davis, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner
Cite this Entry
“Runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runner. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
runner
noun
run·ner
ˈrən-ər 
1
a
: one that runs
b
2
3
: a thin piece or part on which something slides
4
a
: a slender creeping stem that arises from the base of a plant
especially
: stolon
b
: a plant (as a strawberry) that forms or spreads by runners
5
a
: a long narrow carpet (as for a hall)
b
: a narrow decorative cloth cover for a table or dresser top
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