/ˈɹʌnɪŋ/
Say it backRunning is the act of moving rapidly on foot, typically at a pace faster than walking. It can describe physical exercise, a sport, or a continuous sequence of activities. The word also functions in phrases like running late or running shoes, and carries idiomatic uses such as running a program or running costs.
"The athlete trained every morning to improve her running times."
"I’m running late, so I’ll grab a quick coffee on the way."
"She bought new running shoes for the marathon."
Pronounce it as RUN-ning with stress on the first syllable: IPA US/UK/AU: US ˈrənɪŋ, UK ˈrʌnɪŋ, AU ˈrʌnɪŋ. Start with a quick, short /r/ followed by a schwa or near-schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, then a clear /n/ and a final /ɪŋ/. In careful speech, you can hear two syllables: /ˈrən.ɪŋ/; in connected speech, it often reduces to /ˈrənɪŋ/ or even /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ depending on accent and pace.
Common mistakes: 1) Reducing the first syllable too much, turning /ˈrən/ toward /ˈrɪn/; 2) Slurring the /ŋ/ into a nasalized /ŋk/ or dropping the final /-ing/; 3) Ignoring the T-merge in rapid speech where /n/ blends with /ɪŋ/. Fix: emphasize /ˈrən/ or /ˈrʌn/ then the /ɪŋ/ clearly; keep the /n/ as a separate alveolar nasal between the two vowels. Practice with word pairs to hear the crisp /n/ before the /ɪŋ/.
US tends to reduce the first vowel to a schwa: /ˈrənɪŋ/. UK often holds a slightly back /ʌ/ in stressed syllable: /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ with r-lessness in non-rhotic regions affecting linked speech; Australian is similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities, sometimes closer to /ˈɹʌnɪŋ/ or more centralized /ˈɹənɪŋ/ depending on speaker. Consonants remain alveolar nasal /n/; no rhoticity changes the R sound only in rhotic varieties.
Because of the rapid sequencing of sounds: a tense onset /r/ or /ɹ/ followed by a reduced vowel /ə/ or /ʌ/ and a trailing /ɪŋ/. The transition from the vowel to the alveolar nasal /n/ and then to the velar nasal /ŋ/ creates a tricky two-consonant cluster and a final nasal with a velar articulation. Coarticulation makes the first syllable sound rushed; tongue position shifts and controlled breath support are essential.
The first syllable often reduces to a short schwa; many speakers blend /ə/ toward a near-closed central vowel in rapid speech. Ensure the /n/ remains clearly articulated before the /ŋ/; avoid turning it into a /d/ or /l/ sound. Also, watch for a potential vowel shift in some dialects where /ɪ/ in the second syllable can shift toward a more centralized /ɪ/ as in a quicker, clipped pronunciation.
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The word running comes from the Old English runnian, from the Proto-Germanic runtōną (run), with cognates in Dutch rennen and German rennen. It evolved from the verb run, which itself traces to the Proto-Indo-European root reu- meaning to flow, move swiftly, or leap. In Middle English, running began to take on continuous-action senses, aligning with phrases like “running after” or “running about.” By Early Modern English, running was established as a gerund or present participle form used to denote ongoing action as well as the noun referring to the activity itself. The distinction between “to run” (verb) and “running” (gerund/participle) is foundational in English morphology, with “running” expanding into compound usages (running a business, running software) that reflect ongoing processes or management. First known uses appear in Anglo-Norman and Middle English texts, with robust attestations by the 14th–16th centuries as sport and movement terminology became more codified in literature and law." ,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "running" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "running" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "running"
-ing sounds
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