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
Verb
The latest starting quintet - Butler, Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Mills and Rozier - sprinted to a 17-7 lead. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024 As Earhart and Stultz made their way in the Friendship to Newfoundland, the closest North American landmass to Europe, Boll hastily arranged for a new pilot and sprinted north in the Columbia. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 After Damian broke up with Giannina at the altar (and Giannina muddied her dress by dramatically sprinting out of the ceremony), the couple briefly rekindled their relationship but broke up in August 2021 as rumors swirled about Damian dating Too Hot to Handle’s Francesca Farago. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 Some in the crowd hit the ground while others leapt over barriers and sprinted, some carrying children in their arms. Heather Hollingsworth, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2024 Mercedes says the sedan will be able to sprint from zero to 63 mph in just 3.8 seconds (the wagon can do the same in 3.9 seconds). Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Thankfully, another break came so Stone could grab her husband's hand and sprint back into the auditorium. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Mario can’t sprint, toss fireballs or anything like that. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Maidens of the county would have to sprint to the alter in wholesale lots to beat last year's record. Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
She's clinched three world titles since then, is considered the reigning sprint European champion and is an Olympic medalist. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Last season, the Giants were the slowest team in the National League, with an average sprint speed faster than only the Yankees and White Sox. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Randall is the first American in 30 years to win a cross country championship by clinching the overall sprint title. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Neither driver has ever won a race, but Piastri upstaged the Englishman with a victory in a sprint race in Qatar last October. Brad Spurgeon, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 The performance was not so much a sprint to the finish line as a final, forceful push into every detail and color. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 If passion ignites the spark, then prudence charts the course, ensuring that the entrepreneurial journey is not a reckless sprint but a purposeful marathon. Somdutta Singh, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 That sprint brought the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, known as the federal funds rate, to between 5.25 and 5.5 percent. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Its rotation isn’t a sprint or a crawl but a deliberate and patient stride. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 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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