# sprint

/ˈspɹɪnt/ (US) · /spɹˈɪnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sprint
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a short race

noun · CEFR B1

a short race where you run as fast as you can from start to finish.

For teachers: a short-distance race in which the competitors maintain maximum speed throughout.

- He won the 100-metre sprint by just a fraction of a second.
- The Olympic sprint requires explosive power from the starting blocks and perfect form to maintain velocity over the final twenty metres.

### 2. a burst of activity

noun · CEFR B2

a short period where you work or move very quickly to finish something.

For teachers: a brief, intense effort or burst of activity aimed at completing a specific task.

- We had a final sprint at the office to get the report finished by Friday.
- After months of slow progress, the team entered a final sprint to ensure the product was ready for the international trade show.

### 3. software development cycle

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a set period of time, usually two weeks, where a team works to finish specific tasks.

For teachers: a fixed-duration development cycle in Agile methodology, typically lasting two to four weeks.

- The team decided which features to include in the next two-week sprint.
- During the sprint planning meeting, the developers estimated the complexity of each task to ensure the workload remained manageable within the fortnight.

### 4. to run fast

verb · CEFR B1

to run or move at your highest possible speed for a short time.

For teachers: to run, cycle, or move at maximum speed for a limited duration. Often used without a direct object.

- I had to sprint to the station so I wouldn't miss the last train.
- The striker managed to sprint past the defenders, reaching the ball just in time to take a shot at the goal.

## Examples

- He won the hundred-meter sprint easily.
- The development team finished the new features during a two-week sprint before the product launch.
- The final sprint toward the finish line required an immense burst of anaerobic energy that left the athletes gasping for air.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.