Runny describes something liquid that flows more easily or loosely than it should. A runny nose drips constantly when you have a cold, and a runny egg yolk spreads across your plate instead of staying thick and contained.

When cake batter is too runny, it means you probably added too much milk or not enough flour, so it pours like water instead of holding its shape. Honey becomes runny when it's warm, flowing smoothly from the jar, while cold honey moves much more slowly.

The word usually suggests something is more liquid than ideal or expected. Paint that's too runny will drip down the wall instead of staying where you brush it. Runny oatmeal has too much water and feels soupy instead of thick and hearty.

You'll also hear people describe runny ice cream on a hot day, melting into liquid faster than you can eat it, or a runny pudding that should be thick but spreads out on the spoon. The word captures that frustrating moment when something that should hold together starts flowing away.