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
  • Moore slid late and Stephens didn’t change course, lowering his shoulder and running into Moore’s head.
    — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The leash requirement is designed to promote public safety and help prevent dogs from running into traffic, approaching strangers without permission or interacting with other animals in unpredictable ways.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of running into
Phrase
  • Servants called flappers are required to shake rattles in their ears to keep them from falling or bumping into things.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Over the past few days, the people at the front of the lines have gradually moved closer and closer to the courtroom, to the point where the doors can barely open without bumping into a throng of people.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of bumping into
Phrase
  • Former Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Jesse Ortiz, who is endorsed by the Yolo County Democratic Party, is running against George Washington, a certified psychologist.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Trump was in Oklahoma for Republican Mike Mazzei, running against Democratic state House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson for governor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Oct. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Running across.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20across. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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