run·ning (rŭn'ĭng)
n.

1. The act or an instance of running.
2. The power or ability to run.
3. Sports. The exercise or sport of someone who runs.

adj.

1. Ongoing over a period of time: a running conversation; a running joke among us.
2. Set in continuous or unbroken lines: running text.
3. Printed at the top or bottom of every page or every other page: a running title; a running footer.

adv.
In a consecutive way: four years running.

idioms:

in the running

1. Entered as a contender in a competition.
2. Having the possibility of winning or placing well in a competition.

out of the running

1. Not entered as a contender in a competition.
2. Having no possibility of winning or placing well in a competition.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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