running across

phrase

present participle of run across
1
as in finding
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance She ran across an old friend at lunch.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face They ran across a bear while camping in the woods.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for running across
  1. running into
  2. bumping into
  3. running against
Phrase
  • Charging documents said both suspects were then seen on video running into a nearby home before eventually escaping through the back of the house.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The president’s rosy view is running into anxiety about the cost of living and fallout from the war in Iran.
    — Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of running into
Phrase
  • Clark actually received an eighth after accidentally bumping into an official, but the league later rescinded it.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The motorcycle continued moving down the ramp, bumping into the guard rail and stopping on the exit ramp, law enforcement recorded.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Definition of bumping into
Phrase
  • Tlaib, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, will appear alongside fellow socialists Oliver Larkin, who is challenging Moskowitz, and Elijah Manley, who is running against Wasserman Schultz.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Our executive producers are running against the clock trying to get all the moving pieces.
    — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of running against
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.

Browse Nearby Words

running
running across
running after
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Cite this Entry

“Running across.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20across. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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