Published on: 2026-07-30
Obscure Linguistics and Word Origins
The English word 'set' holds the Guinness World Record for having the most definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary. Which of the following words is actually the recognized record holder for the highest number of distinct meanings?
Correct
While many people assume 'set' is the king of versatility, the word 'run' famously takes the gold medal. It has grown so many definitions over centuries that its entry in the dictionary is essentially an epic novel, covering everything from running a race to a run in your stockings or even a run on a bank. 'Set' is a bit of an overachiever for sure, but it does not quite hit the legendary count of 'run'. 'Take' and 'go' are definitely popular and useful, but they just cannot keep pace with the sheer linguistic marathon that is the word 'run'.