Dictionary

runner en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹʌnɚ/ (General-American)
• /ˈɹʌnə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹʊnɐ/ (Northumbria)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈɹʊnə/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

From Middle English rennere, rynner, urnare, equivalent to run + -er. Cognate with Old Norse rennari (“runner; messenger”). Displaced earlier Middle English runel (“runner”), from Old English rynel (“runner”; also “messenger, courier”). ((botany) a long stolon sent by a plant): Compare typologically Russian побе́г (pobég) (akin to бежа́ть (bežátʹ)).

Meanings

1. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A person who moves, on foot, at a fast pace, especially an athlete.
   • Near-synonym: racer
   • The first runner to cross the finish line wins the race.
2. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ Any entrant, person or animal (especially a horse), for a race or any competition; a candidate for an election.
   • The judge said she would not be a runner in the upcoming elections.
   • The mare is the stables' runner for the 5.15 race at Epsom.
3. (slang) Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A competitor in a poker tournament.
4. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ Somebody who controls or manages (e.g. a system).
   • […] at least half of which would be put into the pool for the winner, the rest kept for the runners of the system to cover costs and more than likely make a fair profit. 1998 June 12, Daniel Jonathan Kirk, “tipping competitions”, in aus.legal (Usenet):
5. (in-compounds) Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A person or vessel that runs blockades or engages in smuggling.
   • The gunrunners were arrested leaving the airport.
   • The modus operandi used by the idol and antique runners is to order consignments of fakes. 1992, Hamendar Bhisham Pal, The Plunder of Art, page 75:
6. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A player who runs for a batsman who is too injured to run; he is dressed exactly as the injured batsman, and carries a bat.
7. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A baserunner.
   • The runner was out at second.
8. (qualifier:Australian rules football) Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A person (from one or the other team) who runs out onto the field during the game to take verbal instructions from the coach to the players. A runner mustn't interfere with play, and may have to wear an identifying shirt to make clear his or her purpose on the field.
9. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ Anyone sent on an errand or with communications, especially for a bank (or, historically, a foot soldier responsible for carrying messages during war).
   • By 1963, Carmine was working as a "runner" for an accounting firm, and he would drop by 1619 Broadway to knock on doors in hopes of selling off some of his songs 1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 242:
10. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A restaurant employee responsible for taking food from the kitchens to the tables.
    • “Then you divide your army amongst the various houses where restorations are ordered for Jubilee day?” / “Certainly—say one waiter to ten guests—if it was a dinner we should send one waiter to six guests—with runners, of course.” / “Runners?” / “Omnibuses you call them here—young ones—apprentices—who wait on the waiters.” / “Run everywhere, do anything?” 1897 June 19, “The Jubilee Waiters. Some Words with the Maître d’Hôtel.”, in The Daily News, number 15,984, London, →OCLC, page 2, column 6:
    • […] the chef can send a runner to see why not and if the waiter has forgotten about the order, a runner can cover and serve. 1989, Caterer & Hotelkeeper, volume 180, page 83:
11. (US, dated) Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A trusty (prisoner granted special privileges).
    • In our prisons you might find a condemned man working as a runner, a trusty, which is about as far from segregation as you can get. 1959, Frederick S. Baldi, My Unwelcome Guests, page 25:
12. (slang) Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ An employee of a sports agent who tries to recruit possible player clients for the agent.
    • This week hundreds of NFL agents gathered to hear an honorable man talk about a noble pipedream. It was a discussion about a significant step to end one of the cornerstones of corruption in college football: runners. Not the backs getting their 40 times tested at the scouting combine but the slimeball trolls who work on behalf of agents to help recruit — a generous word — football prospects by illegally giving them cash (or cars or money for family members or rent for a nice house) so the player then signs with the agent upon turning pro. Freeman, Mike (25 February 2012), “Runners' world: Union boss Smith's noble idea likely stuck at the start”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), CBSSports.com, retrieved 19 Mar 2014
13. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ A person hired by a gambling establishment to locate potential customers and bring them in.
14. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ One who runs away; a deserter or escapee.
15. Agent noun of run; one who runs. ▸ An assistant.
16. (qualifier:usually in the phrase do a runner, slang) A quick escape away from a scene; (by extension) the person who gets away.
    • We were shocked, astonished, when the staff, when pushed, disclosed that they had had to cover runners the previous night. The runners used the scam of ‘smoking’ to go outside after eating and drinking champagne and top-notch wine … and kept walking. And who paid their bill? Staff! Disgusting. 2018 March 24, Loch Fyne, quotee, “True or false? 'If you do a runner, the waiter has to pay your bill'”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
    • He did a runner after robbing the drugstore.
17. (Australia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland) A type of soft-soled shoe originally intended for runners.
    • Tess stands by Mr Foley in runners that are bright yellow and exuberant and off-putting. 2023, Elaine Feeney, How to Build a Boat, Vintage (2024), page 167:
18. Part of a shoe that is stitched to the bottom of the upper so it can be glued to the sole.
19. A part of an apparatus that moves quickly.
    • After the cycle completes, the runner travels back quickly to be in place for the next cycle.
20. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ A smooth strip on which a sledge runs.
21. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ The blade of an ice skate.
22. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ The channel or strip on which a drawer is opened and closed.
23. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ Part of a mechanism which allows something to be pulled out for maintenance.
    • Maintenance was simplified by making all components easily accessible and easy to remove: for example, the air compressors in the short nose slide out on runners. 1962 June, “Beyond the Channel: U.S.S.R.: A 3,000 h.p. diesel-hydraulic from MaK”, in Modern Railways, page 416:
24. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ The curved base of a rocking chair.
25. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ In saddlery, a loop of metal through which a rein is passed.
26. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ In molding, a channel cut in a mold.
27. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ The rotating-stone of a grinding-mill.
28. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ The movable piece to which the ribs of an umbrella are attached.
29. A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding). ▸ A tool in which lenses are fastened for polishing.
30. (slang) An automobile; a working or driveable automobile.
    • The car salesman told me that the used Volvo was a nice little runner.
    • Is that old Mercedes on the forecourt a runner? / No, it has no gearbox.
31. A strip of fabric used to decorate or protect a table or dressing table.
    • The red runner makes the table so festive.
32. A long, narrow carpet for a high-traffic area such as a hall or stairs.
    • Why don't we put down a clear runner in the front hall?
33. (slang) A part of a cigarette that is burning unevenly.
34. A long stolon sent out by a plant (such as strawberry), in order to root new plantlets, or a plant that propagates by using such runners.
35. A short sling with a carabiner on either end, used to link the climbing rope to a bolt or other protection such as a nut or friend.
36. A leaping food fish (Elagatis pinnulatis) of Florida and the West Indies; the skipjack, shoemaker, or yellowtail.
37. A rope to increase the power of a tackle.
38. A speedrunner.
39. An idea or plan that has potential to be adopted or put into operation.
    • This idea isn't a runner. Let's not waste any more time on it.
40. A running gag.
    • Don’t Look Up jabs around omnidirectionally, and some of the most gleefully ridiculous jokes land: There’s an inspired runner about an increasingly scandal-plagued Supreme Court nominee, for example, and another in which politicians and voters alike absurdly declare their allegiance to “the jobs the comet will bring.” 7 December 2021, Jesse Hassenger, “Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence cope with disaster in the despairing satire Don’t Look Up”, in AV Club:
    • The fairy-tale promise of love and intimacy became a runner in Swift’s work as a songwriter, something she’d repeatedly espouse, then skewer; she was self-aware about the role narrative played in her expectations. 2023 December 6, Sam Lansky, “Person of Year 2023 : Taylor Swift”, in Time, archived from the original on 06 Dec 2023:
41. A streamlet.
    • A runner, or streamlet, from other woods joined it at this end, and waited in the pool to pass through the grating to the mills. 1927, Henry Williamson, Tarka the Otter:
42. A boat for transporting fish, oysters, etc.

Forms

Deriveds

runner-up · circle runner · blockade runner · river-runner · rum-runner · runners and riders · runner-runner · stonerunner · racerunner · footrunner · torch runner · plug the runner · runnerless · parkrunner · rum runner · showrunner · sand runner · invisible runner · fell runner · bull runner · route runner · tree runner · logrunner · rumrunner · endless runner · underrunner · free runner · treerunner · bookrunner · pier runner · ridge-runner · dope-runner · rope runner · forerunner · waverunner · frontrunner · bed runner · front runner · runner bean · brushrunner · Indian Runner · cloudrunner · jayrunner · scarlet runner · wave-runner · rainbow runner · infinite runner · non-runner · runner up · wave runner · ghost runner · gag runner · pinch runner · rockrunner · nonrunner · front-runner · drug runner · rat runner · runner's knee · bladerunner · do a runner · midnight runner · river runner · soak the runner · blue runner · designated runner · fore-runner · kite runner · base runner · conrunner · runner poison · hit-and-runner · roadrunner · ultrarunner · runner stone

Synonyms

quick-draw (a short sling) · picker-up · steerer · extender (a short sling) · racer · lugger · roper · sneaker · rocker · trainer

Translations (183)

ar عَدَّاءَة (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn løypar (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · mr धावक (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ja スニーカー (type of soft-soled shoe) · gl corredor (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · tl sangansibol (botany: long stolon) · sh тр̀ка̄ч (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru гоне́ц (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · tk ylgaýjy (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · pl bieżnik (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · ca corredor (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · mr धावणारी (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · kk желаяқ (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · he אָצָן (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · sv löpare (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · grc δρομεύς (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · da løber (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · fi käytävämatto (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · ka მორბენალი (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · rgn curidôr (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · cs běžkyně (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nl renner (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru доро́жка (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · ar عَدَّاء (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi liukukisko (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · mi kaiomaoma (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi lenkkari (type of soft-soled shoe) · it podista (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · sv sne(d)fitta (slang: unevenly burning part of a cigarette) · pt trilho (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · et jooksja (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ro stolon (botany: long stolon) · cmn 纖匐枝 /纤匐枝 (botany: long stolon) · de Läufer (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · fi terä (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · fr coureuse (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · mr धावणारा (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ug يۈگۈرگۈچى (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · lv skrējēja (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · sl tekačica (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fr coureur (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru рассы́льная (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · nn springar (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · hy վազորդ (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · kk жүгіруші (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · es corredora (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · bg бега́чка (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · da løber (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · hi रनर (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nb utløper (botany: long stolon) · ru курье́р (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · yi לויפֿער (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · no løper (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · ga brat reatha (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · sq vrapuese (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn løpar (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru посы́льная (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · no løpar (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · ky жөө күлүк (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi pyörittäjä (somebody who controls or manages) · bg разси́лен (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · fr stolon (botany: long stolon) · sh трка̀чица (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ko 운동화 (type of soft-soled shoe) · fi lenkkitossu (type of soft-soled shoe) · fi lähetti (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · es corredor (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · uk кросі́вка (type of soft-soled shoe) · cmn 運動鞋 /运动鞋 (type of soft-soled shoe) · uz yuguruvchi (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi kaitaliina (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · ru бегу́н (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi jobbari (person or vessel that runs blockades or engages in smuggling) · bg бега́ч (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nb løper (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ja ランナー (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · it corritrice (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · my အပြေးသမား (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn utlaupar (botany: long stolon) · ba йүгереүсе (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · cmn 球鞋 (type of soft-soled shoe) · ko 주자 (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · cmn 通訊員 /通讯员 (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · mi waetea (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn utløpar (botany: long stolon) · cmn 跑步者 (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · lo ນັກແລ່ນ (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · be бягу́н (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · cs běhoun (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · fi rönsy (botany: long stolon) · sl tekač (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · tr koşucu (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · tk ylgawçy (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · be бягу́нка (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · pt fuga (slang: quick escape away from a scene) · az qaçıcı (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · no matte (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · sk bežec (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · pl trampek (type of soft-soled shoe) · de Kufe (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · ja ランナー (botany: long stolon) · nb løper (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · nn løpar (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · ru посы́льный (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · vi người chạy (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi luisti (part of an apparatus that moves quickly) · ru рассы́льный (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · nn laupar (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn løpar (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · nn utløypar (botany: long stolon) · uk бігу́нка (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · is hlaupari (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru бегу́нья (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn laupar (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · de Tischläufer (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · hi धावक (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fa دَوَندِه (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · lt bėgikas (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru кроссо́вка (type of soft-soled shoe) · uk бігу́н (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · cmn 信差 (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · no løypar (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · fi juoksija (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · da løber (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ro alergătoare (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · la cursor (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · sh trkàčica (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nb løper (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · no matte (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · fi kilpailija (entrant for a competition; candidate for an election) · cmn 跑者 (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi menopeli (slang: automobile; a working or driveable automobile) · pt corredor (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · bg курие́р (anyone sent on an errand or with communications) · kmr bezvan (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · el δρομέας (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · mk тркачка (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · tt йөгерешче (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · it corridore (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn løypar (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · lt bėgikė (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · pl biegacz (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · sk bežkyňa (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · nn laupar (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · de Laufschuh (type of soft-soled shoe) · sh tr̀kāč (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · cs běžec (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi jalas (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · km អ្នករត់ប្រណាំង (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · am ሯጭ (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ur رَنَر (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi kanava (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · pl tenisówka (type of soft-soled shoe) · pl biegaczka (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · sq vrapues (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi liukupinta (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · pt centro de mesa (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · fi juoksukenkä (type of soft-soled shoe) · it passatoia (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · pl adidas (type of soft-soled shoe) · sv utlöpare (botany: long stolon) · pt corredora (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru по́лоз (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · de Läuferin (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fi ehdokas (entrant for a competition; candidate for an election) · ang rynel (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru побе́г (botany: long stolon) · de Läufer (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · ru бегуно́к (part of an apparatus that moves quickly) · fi hatkat (slang: quick escape away from a scene) · mk тркач (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · no laupar (long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area) · ro alergător (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · th นักวิ่ง (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · lv skrējējs (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · fr glissière (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · nn løypar (strip of fabric used to decorate a table) · fr coulisse (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · hu futó (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · bg махови́к (mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move) · ja 走者 (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · tg даванда (somebody who runs, who moves at a fast pace) · be красо́ўка (type of soft-soled shoe)