sprint

1 of 2

verb

sprinted; sprinting; sprints

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
b
: a burst of speed

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Midway through the opening quarter, and with his pass protection breaking down around him, Maye sprinted out of the pocket for a 17-yard touchdown run. Andrew Greif, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2024 That’s when Moss found Lemon sprinting free downfield. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
The format condenses the traditional race weekend by incorporating a single practice on Friday before the sprint qualifying which sets the pole positions for Saturday's sprint. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Michelle Obama returns to political spotlight for final sprint of 2024 campaign Lawn signs are everywhere. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near sprint

Cite this Entry

“Sprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprint. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sprint

1 of 2 verb
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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