Run time or runtime?
run time is a noun meaning “The stage during which a program is executing”; runtime is an adjective meaning “Alternative spelling of run-time”. run time is written as two words and runtime as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between run time and runtime?
| run time | runtime | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, adjective | adjective, noun |
| Meaning | The stage during which a program is executing The amount of time during which a program is executing Of, relating to, or happening during run time | Alternative spelling of run-time Alternative spelling of run time |
| Example | You need to install the .NET runtime before you can run this application | none recorded |
| Forms | run-times | none |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | 1.2 times per million words |
Sources: run time and runtime in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of run time and runtime
run time
- 1
The stage during which a program is executing
- 2
Of, relating to, or happening during run time
a run-time error
- 3
Alternative form of run time
- 4
The amount of time during which a program is executing
- 5
A software component designed to support the execution of computer programs
You need to install the .NET runtime before you can run this application
- 6
The length of a film, television program or audio track in minutes, usually with end credits included
runtime
- 1
Alternative spelling of run-time
- 2
Alternative spelling of run time
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, run time or runtime?
run time is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; runtime 1.2 times per million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How many people search run time vs runtime?
“run time vs runtime” is searched about 20 times a month on Google and 10 on Bing in the United States. Google counts close variants of a query together (“runtime vs run time”, “run time or runtime”).
Sources: Google Ads keyword data through DataForSEO and Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, the average month from September 2025 to August 2026.