: a joke/gag that is repeated many times in slightly different ways
Examples of running joke/gag in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
There's also a running joke the kids in the film have about butts.—
Devonne Goode,
Parents,
6 Aug. 2025 There’s a running gag in which each of the eight players gets to play the same role at different times, each bringing their own bluster to it and each wearing the same silly hat.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
22 July 2025 The incident causes much stress for Josh, as his adoration for Winfrey is a running joke throughout the series.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
20 July 2025 Take Dyer’s running joke about the awfulness of childhood food.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025 It was well earned — one of the most well earned in the history of the running gag.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
12 July 2025 This game and the original have both been released and re-released so many times at this point, a new update like this can start to feel like part of a running joke.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025 Hoffman went on to poke fun at the very idea of awards shows, all while complaining — in a running joke that continued throughout the evening — about not being paid for her hosting duties.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
6 June 2025 The origins of their love story has since become a running joke.—
Brianne Tracy,
People.com,
6 June 2025