running
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The action of moving rapidly on foot, or operating continuously.
The management or operation of an organization, machine, or system; a continuous sequence or the status of being in progress.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Serves as a noun, adjective, and adverb. The gerund form refers to the activity; the adjective describes things that operate, flow, or are done continuously.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in related compounds (e.g., 'run-up' in UK vs. 'lead-up' in US). 'Running repairs' is more common in UK English.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'running' as an adjective conveys continuous function.
Frequency
As a basic verb form and gerund, frequency is equally high in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] + keep + [something] + running[subject] + be + running + [adverb of time][subject] + have + [something] + up and runningVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be running on empty”
- “have the running”
- “in the running”
- “make the running”
- “up and running”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Managing ongoing operations and costs (e.g., 'day-to-day running of the firm').
Academic
Referring to continuous processes or statistical series (e.g., 'running average').
Everyday
Referring to the sport or to being late (e.g., 'I go running', 'The bus is running late').
Technical
Describing the state of a machine or software (e.g., 'The server is running').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She's been running the charity for five years.
- The train is running twenty minutes behind schedule.
American English
- He's running for state senate.
- The software has been running without issues.
adverb
British English
- We've won three times running.
- The event has been held for years running.
American English
- It happened four days running.
- She was champion five years running.
adjective
British English
- We need access to running water.
- The team has a running total of points.
American English
- She gave a running commentary on the game.
- He has a running tab at the diner.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I go running in the park every morning.
- The tap has running water.
- The café has been running successfully since last year.
- He's running in the local election.
- Keeping the engine running in traffic wastes fuel.
- She provided a running translation of the speech.
- After months of development, the new platform is finally up and running.
- They engaged in a running battle with regulators over the policy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tap with water RUNNING out, representing both movement and continuous operation.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME/ACTIVITY IS MOTION (e.g., 'the project is running smoothly').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'running water' literally as 'бегущая вода' – use 'водопроводная вода'.
- The phrase 'running late' does not imply physical motion; use 'опаздывать'.
- In sports, 'running' is 'бег', but in management contexts, it's 'управление' or 'ведение'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I am running to lose weight.' (Correct: 'I go running to lose weight.' – for habitual activity).
- Incorrect: 'The machine is on running.' (Correct: 'The machine is running.').
- Incorrect use of continuous form for stative verbs (e.g., 'I am running a café' is correct for managing, but 'The café is belonging to me' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'running' function as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In 'I go running', 'running' is a gerund (a verb form functioning as a noun, object of the verb 'go').
'Run' is the base form (infinitive/present tense for most subjects). 'Running' is the present participle/gerund, used for continuous tenses and as a noun/adjective.
Yes, e.g., 'She is running a business' means she is managing or operating it.
It is an idiom meaning fully operational or functioning correctly, often after setup or repair.