sprint
B2Neutral (Used in formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To run or move at full speed for a short distance or period of time.
A short, intense burst of activity or effort in any field, often against a deadline.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Sprint implies maximum effort and speed for a limited duration. As a noun, it can refer to the race itself, the period of running, or a project phase.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the word identically in sports and metaphorically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of speed, intensity, and short duration.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sprint (verb) + [adverbial of direction/distance]sprint (noun) + for/of + [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sprint to the finish line”
- “put on a sprint”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a short, focused period of work, e.g., in Agile project management ('a two-week development sprint').
Academic
Used in sports science literature to describe maximal short-distance running.
Everyday
Common for describing running fast to catch a bus or in a short race.
Technical
In cycling, a sprint finish; in software development, a Scrum sprint.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He had to sprint to catch the last train.
- The striker sprinted past the defender.
American English
- She sprinted to her car in the rain.
- I'll sprint to the store and be right back.
adverb
British English
- He ran sprint fast for the last 50 metres. (Rare/Informal)
American English
- She moved sprint-quick to grab the phone. (Rare/Informal)
adjective
British English
- She is the new sprint champion.
- He has impressive sprint speed.
American English
- It was a close sprint finish.
- The team held a sprint planning meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children sprinted in the park.
- He won the sprint.
- I had to sprint to the bus stop because I was late.
- The final sprint of the race was very exciting.
- After the meeting, we'll begin a two-week design sprint to finalise the prototype.
- The cyclist conserved energy for the final sprint to the line.
- The company embarked on a innovation sprint to develop a solution ahead of the competitors.
- His ability to decelerate less than his opponents is what makes him such a dominant sprinter.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPRINT as a SPeeRy hINT of extreme speed; it's a short, powerful hint of your top running ability.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROJECTS ARE RACES (e.g., 'We're in the final sprint of the project').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'спринт' for all contexts; it's less common in everyday Russian for non-sporting 'rushes'.
- Don't confuse 'sprint' (short, max speed) with 'marathon' (долгая дистанция).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sprint' for a long-distance run (incorrect).
- Confusing 'sprinted' (past tense) with 'sprang' (past of 'spring').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sprint' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning relates to running, it is widely used metaphorically for any short, intense effort (e.g., a work sprint, a cleaning sprint).
'Run' is general. 'Sprint' specifically means to run at your absolute maximum speed for a short distance.
Yes. As a noun: 'He ran a great sprint.' As a verb: 'He will sprint to the finish.'
In methodologies like Scrum, a sprint is a fixed period (e.g., 2-4 weeks) where a team works to complete a set amount of work from the project backlog.