sprint
sprihnt
Sprint (noun) means a short race or burst of running at full speed. Example: “He was out of breath after a quick sprint to the station.”
noun
1
A short race or burst of running at full speed.
"He was out of breath after a quick sprint to the station."
"The race ended in a thrilling sprint to the finish line."
"She won the 100-metre sprint at the school meet."
2
(Agile software development) A short, fixed period of focused work toward a set goal.
"Each sprint begins with a meeting where the team picks its goals."
"We fixed three bugs during this two-week sprint."
"The team planned to finish the login feature by the end of the sprint."
verb
1
To run as fast as possible over a short distance.
"When the rain started, we all had to sprint towards the shelter."
"The boy sprinted across the playground to catch his friend."
"He sprinted the last fifty metres to catch the bus."
How to use sprint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short burst of running (or work) at maximum effort.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
final sprint
sprint finish
two-week sprint
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Word forms
- Plural
- sprints
- Third person singular
- sprints
- Past tense
- sprinted, sprant, sprunt
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He was out of breath after a quick _____ to the station.
Etymology
From earlier "sprent" ("to leap, dart"), from Old Norse, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to twitch or jump.
Related words
Rhymes for sprint
See all rhymes for sprint →Frequently asked questions
What does “sprint” mean?
The word “sprint” means a short race or burst of running at full speed. In plain terms, a short burst of running (or work) at maximum effort.
How do you pronounce “sprint”?
“Sprint” is pronounced sprihnt (/spɹɪnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sprint” in a sentence?
Here is “sprint” used in a sentence: “She won the 100-metre sprint at the school meet.”
What part of speech is “sprint”?
Depending on how it is used, “sprint” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sprint” come from?
The word “sprint” comes from Old Norse. From earlier "sprent" ("to leap, dart"), from Old Norse, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to twitch or jump.
Is “sprint” a common word?
“Sprint” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sprint” have?
“Sprint” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short race or burst of running at full speed.
What is the difference between a sprint and a marathon?
A sprint is a short race run at full speed, so it rewards explosive power and top speed over a brief distance. A marathon is a long-distance endurance event that rewards stamina and steady pacing rather than all-out speed. Figuratively, a 'sprint' is a brief burst of intense effort, while a 'marathon' suggests something long and gruelling.
What is the difference between sprinting and jogging?
Sprinting means running as fast as you possibly can over a short distance, using maximum effort. Jogging is running at a slow, relaxed, sustainable pace, usually for exercise or over longer distances. You can only sprint for a short time, whereas you can jog for extended periods.
How long is a sprint in Agile software development?
In Agile methods such as Scrum, a sprint is a short, fixed period of focused work toward a set goal, with its length agreed in advance and kept constant. Sprints commonly run for two to four weeks, though the exact length is chosen by the team. Keeping the length fixed lets the team plan and measure work in a predictable rhythm.
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