sprint

1 of 2

verb

ˈsprint How to pronounce sprint (audio)
sprinted; sprinting; sprints
Synonyms of sprintnext

intransitive verb

: to run or go at top speed especially for a short distance
sprinter noun

sprint

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or an instance of sprinting
2
a
: dash sense 3b
b
: a burst of speed

Synonyms of sprint

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of sprint in a Sentence

Verb The bicycle racers sprinted for the finish line. he sprinted off to class so as to avoid being late Noun He made a sprint for the finish line.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Fatal Influence sprinted out to a lead by isolating their opponents and thrashing them on the outside. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Each time assistant coach Pablo de la Torre, the fitness specialist, blew his whistle, the players had to sprint to the far end of the pitch and back again before the rondos resumed. — James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
The wearer of the yellow jersey was nailed on for another win, this time in a bunch sprint instead of a reduced pack. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Regardless, Desi seems to be keeping busy traveling, getting outdoors, running sprints and selling workout clothing. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sprint

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English (Scots) sprenten to spring, leap, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect sprinta to jump, hop; akin to Old High German sprinzan to jump up

First Known Use

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprint was in 1836

Phrases Containing sprint

Rhymes for sprint

See All Rhymes for sprint

Browse Nearby Words

sprinkling can
sprint
sprint car
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprint. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sprint

1 of 2 verb
ˈsprint How to pronounce sprint (audio)
: to run at top speed especially for a short distance
sprinter noun

sprint

2 of 2 noun
1
: a short run at top speed
2
: a race over a short distance

More from Merriam-Webster on sprint

Nglish: Translation of sprint for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sprint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All