DictionaryRoot: rinnan
Old English

rinnan

run or flow

Forms

  • rinnan
  • ran- — A changed form used for past action.
  • runn- — Another changed form that influenced later English.

Origin

An inherited Germanic verb with older Indo-European ancestry.

Note

Modern run combines forms from more than one closely related Old English verb.

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verb / noun

run

RUN/rʌn/

Moving quickly on foot.

She runs along the river before starting work.

Runner moving quickly along a path.
Etymology

Old English rinnan already described swift movement on foot, so this meaning continues an ancient use. The modern verb also incorporates the related ærnan, meaning “to ride, run to, or gain by running.”

In context

WDW Prep School7:39
want to run the race because it's a Disney race and they want to run through the parks
runDisney tips for beginners

More examples

  • We went for a short run.
  • He ran to catch the bus.
  • They have run five miles.

Forms

run · runs · ran · running

runner noun — a person who runs, especially for sport

Similar words

sprint
Specifies running fast, usually over a short distance.