running

[ruhn-ing] /ˈrʌn ɪŋ/
noun
1.
the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs.
2.
managing or directing:
the running of a business.
3.
an act or instance of racing:
the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby.
4.
the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on; footing:
Our track team had muddy running today.
5.
the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow.
adjective
6.
galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly.
7.
  1. going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop.
  2. taught to proceed at a gallop.
8.
creeping or climbing, as plants:
a running vine.
9.
moving or proceeding easily or smoothly.
10.
moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope.
11.
slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose.
12.
operating or functioning, as a machine.
13.
(of measurement) linear; straight-line.
14.
cursive, as handwriting.
15.
flowing, as a stream.
16.
liquid or fluid.
17.
present; current:
the running month.
18.
prevalent, as a condition or state:
running prices.
19.
going or carried on continuously; sustained:
a running commentary.
20.
extending or repeated continuously:
a running pattern.
21.
performed with or during a run:
a running leap.
22.
discharging pus or other matter:
a running sore.
23.
Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use:
running bowsprit; running gaff.
24.
Nautical, Machinery.
  1. noting any block of a tackle that moves.
  2. noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks (opposed to standing).
adverb
25.
in succession; consecutively:
He slept badly for three nights running.
Idioms
26.
in the running,
  1. participating or entered as a competitor.
  2. under consideration as a candidate or possible choice:
    Who is still in the running for the directorship?
  3. among the winners or those making a good showing.
27.
out of the running,
  1. not competing in a contest or race.
  2. not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race:
    to finish out of the running.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English; see run, -ing1, -ing2
Related forms
well-running, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for in the running

running

/ˈrʌnɪŋ/
adjective
1.
maintained continuously; incessant: a running battle, running commentary
2.
(postpositive) without interruption; consecutive: he lectured for two hours running
3.
denoting or relating to the scheduled operation of a public vehicle: the running time of a train
4.
accomplished at a run: a running jump
5.
(of a knot) sliding along the rope from which it is made, so as to form a noose which becomes smaller when the rope is pulled
6.
(of a wound, sore, etc) discharging pus or a serous fluid
7.
denoting or relating to operations for maintenance: running repairs
8.
prevalent; current: running prices
9.
repeated or continuous: a running design
10.
(of certain plants, plant stems, etc) creeping along the ground
11.
flowing: running water
12.
(of handwriting) having the letters run together
noun
13.
management or organization: the running of a company
14.
operation or maintenance: the running of a machine
15.
competition or a competitive situation (in the phrases in the running, out of the running)
16.
make the running, to set the pace in a competition or race
17.
(rare) the power or ability to run
Word Origin and History for in the running

running

n.

Old English ærning, verbal noun from run (v.); to be in (or out) of the running "among" (or "not among") "the lead competitors in a race" (1863) is a metaphor from horse racing, where make the running "set the pace" is recorded from 1837. Running shoe is from 1884.

adj.

present participle adjective from run (v.). Running mate originally was a horse entered in a race to set the pace for another from the same stable who was intended to win (1865); U.S. vice-presidential sense is recorded from 1888. Running dog first recorded 1937, from Chinese and North Korean communist phrases used to describe supposed imperialist lackeys, cf. Mandarin zou gou "running dog," on the notion of a dog that runs at its master's command. Running board first attested 1817, in reference to ships and boats; 1907 of cars and trucks.

Idioms and Phrases with in the running

in the running

.
Entered as a competitor in a contest. For example, Is Mary in the running for this election? The antonym, out of the running, means “not entered as a competitor,” as in Ian is out of the running for the job now that he's living in another state. [ Mid-1800s ]
.
Having a chance to win, as in Mary's still in the running for the promotion. Again, out of the running means the opposite, as in He's too old—he's out of the running. [ Mid-1800s ]
Both usages allude to the entry and chances of a horse in a race.

running

also see:
Encyclopedia Article for in the running

running

footracing over a variety of distances and courses and numbering among the most popular sports in nearly all times and places. Modern competitive running ranges from sprints (dashes), with their emphasis on continuous high speed, to grueling long-distance and marathon races, requiring great endurance. See also athletics; cross-country; hurdling; long-distance running; marathon; middle-distance running; relay race; sprint; steeplechase. For walk racing, see walking

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