sprint
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a short race at full speed.
-
a burst of speed at any point during a long race, as near the finish line.
-
a brief spell of great activity.
-
a short work cycle of fixed length during which specific goals, tasks, etc., need to be completed by a team: often used in agile development.
noun
-
athletics a short race run at top speed, such as the 100 metres
-
a fast finishing speed at the end of a longer race, as in running or cycling, etc
-
any quick run
verb
Other Word Forms
- outsprint verb (used with object)
- sprinter noun
Etymology
Origin of sprint
First recorded in 1560–70; perhaps continuing Old English sprintan (unrecorded; compare gesprintan “to emit”); cognate with Old Norse spretta, Old High German sprinzan “to jump up”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Back then, he played As It Was, sprinting around the O2 Arena in a spangly red suit jacket, before walking off with four trophies, including album of the year.
From BBC
He was in imperious form all season, winning 25 races, including sprints.
From Barron's
“We need more of that. This is a marathon, not a sprint.”
From Los Angeles Times
The 33-year-old Ducati rider was in imperious form all season, winning 25 races including sprints and clinching the title with five events to spare.
From Barron's
On Monday afternoon, little Salvo Bessemer was walking toward the family car when he suddenly stopped, turned around and sprinted back through the front gate.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
