pace

[ peys ]

/ peɪs /

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noun

a rate of movement, especially in stepping, walking, etc.: To raise your heart rate, walk at a brisk pace of five miles an hour.

a rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.; tempo: The pace of the building's construction had slowed almost to a halt.

any of various standard linear measures, representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking: roughly 30 to 40 inches (75 centimeters to 1 meter).Compare geometrical pace, military pace, Roman pace.

a single step: She took three paces in the direction of the door.

the distance covered in a step: Stand six paces inside the gates.

a manner of stepping; gait.

a gait of a horse or other animal in which the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together.

any of the gaits of a horse.

a raised step or platform.

verb (used with object), paced, pac·ing.

to set the rate of movement for, as in racing.

to traverse or go over with steps: He paced the floor nervously.

to measure by steps or by any of various standard linear measures representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking.

to train to a certain pace; exercise in pacing: to pace a horse.

(of a horse) to run (a distance) at a pace: Hanover II paced a mile.

verb (used without object), paced, pac·ing.

to take slow, regular steps.

to walk up and down nervously, as to expend nervous energy.

(of a horse) to go at a pace.

OTHER WORDS FOR pace

8 step, amble, rack, trot, jog, canter, gallop, walk, run, single foot.

See synonyms for pace on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR pace

15 scurry, scamper, skip.

See antonyms for pace on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about pace

put through one's paces, to cause someone to demonstrate their ability or to show their skill: The French teacher put her students through their paces for the visitors.

set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal or rival; be the most progressive or successful: an agency that sets the pace in advertising.

Origin of pace

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pas, from Old French, from Latin passus “step, pace,” equivalent to pad-, variant stem of pandere “to spread (the legs, in walking)” + -tus suffix of verbal action, with dt becoming ss

synonym study for pace

15. Pace, plod, trudge refer to a steady and monotonous kind of walking. Pace suggests steady, measured steps as of one completely lost in thought or impelled by some distraction: to pace up and down. Plod implies a slow, heavy, laborious, weary walk: The mailman plods his weary way. Trudge implies a spiritless but usually steady and doggedly persistent walk: The farmer trudged to his village to buy his supplies.

Words nearby pace

PABX, pac, paca, Pacceka, paccha, pace, pace bowler, pace car, paced, pace lap, pacemaker

Other definitions for pace (2 of 2)

pace²

[ pey-see, pah-chey; Latin pah-ke ]

/ ˈpeɪ si, ˈpɑ tʃeɪ; Latin ˈpɑ kɛ /

preposition

with all due respect to; with the permission of: I do not, pace my rival, hold with the ideas of the reactionists.

Origin of pace

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin pāce “in peace, by favor” (ablative singular of pāx “favor, pardon, grace, peace ”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pace in a sentence

The ink flows at whatever pace you’re willing to try writing, and the slip-free grip prevents any unexpected errors or smears.
Add some verve to your life with these colorful pens|PopSci Commerce Team|September 11, 2020|Popular-Science
Those consumer numbers have been key for economists to gauge the pace and success of the recovery thus far.
Goldman Sachs just issued a very bullish projection for Q3 GDP|Anne Sraders|September 10, 2020|Fortune
Cash will be around for a long time, he says, but the economy is digitizing at a breakneck pace.
PayPal’s CEO on why moral leadership makes clear capitalism needs an upgrade|McKenna Moore|September 8, 2020|Fortune
The iOS app features individual workouts, challenges, and multi-week training programs for all fitness levels, so you can train at your own pace whenever you want.
The Most Futuristic Workout Gear of 2020|Hayden Carpenter|September 5, 2020|Outside Online

The seven-year veteran also ranks in the top 15 in pace among remaining players in the playoffs, coming in second behind Russell Westbrook among players averaging 15 or more minutes per game with a usage rate of 25 percent or higher.
Giannis Is Doing More Work In Less Time|Andres Waters|September 4, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Back in New York, the slow pace and inward focus of her yoga practice was less fulfilling.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the jokes flow at such a torrential pace that duds are soon forgotten; the best are even Spamalot-worthy.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale|Melissa Leon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I notice he moves at a slightly slower pace than everyone else, and keeps his gestures compact.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A fire that he insists is only picking up pace, according to top-secret intelligence briefings.
ISIS Fight Has a Spy Shortage, Intel Chair Says|Kimberly Dozier|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“I thought I could progress in a much quicker pace and in much more meaningful ways if I was here,” she explained.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We have said it had been lightly laden at starting, which was the reason of the tremendous pace at which it travelled.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
The Turks were no longer in mass but extended in several lines, less than a pace between each man.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
From that time its reputation has kept pace with its cultivation, until it now enjoys a world wide popularity.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
He turned to Rabecque, and the sight of his face sent the lackey back a pace or two in very fear.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
From there on Piegan set a pace that taxed our horses' mettle—that was one consolation—we were well mounted.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for pace (1 of 3)

pace¹

/ (peɪs) /

noun

a single step in walking
the distance covered by a step

a measure of length equal to the average length of a stride, approximately 3 feetSee also Roman pace, geometric pace, military pace

speed of movement, esp of walking or running

rate or style of proceeding at some activityto live at a fast pace

manner or action of stepping, walking, etc; gait

any of the manners in which a horse or other quadruped walks or runs, the three principal paces being the walk, trot, and canter (or gallop)

a manner of moving, natural to the camel and sometimes developed in the horse, in which the two legs on the same side of the body are moved and put down at the same time

architect a step or small raised platform

keep pace with to proceed at the same speed as

put someone through his paces to test the ability of someone

set the pace to determine the rate at which a group runs or walks or proceeds at some other activity

stand the pace or stay the pace to keep up with the speed or rate of others

verb

(tr) to set or determine the pace for, as in a race

(often foll by about, up and down, etc) to walk with regular slow or fast paces, as in boredom, agitation, etcto pace the room

(tr often foll by out) to measure by pacesto pace out the distance

(intr) to walk with slow regular stridesto pace along the street

(intr) (of a horse) to move at the pace (the specially developed gait)

Word Origin for pace

C13: via Old French from Latin passūs step, from pandere to spread, unfold, extend (the legs as in walking)

British Dictionary definitions for pace (2 of 3)

pace²

/ Latin (ˈpɑːkɛ, ˈpɑːtʃɛ, English ˈpeɪsɪ) /

preposition

with due deference to: used to acknowledge politely someone who disagrees with the speaker or writer

Word Origin for pace

C19: from Latin, from pāx peace

British Dictionary definitions for pace (3 of 3)

PACE

/ (peɪs) /

n acronym for (in England and Wales)

Police and Criminal Evidence Act

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with pace

pace

see change of pace; keep pace; put someone through his or her paces; set the pace; snail's pace.

pace

OTHER WORDS FOR pace

OPPOSITES FOR pace

Idioms about pace

Origin of pace

synonym study for pace

Words nearby pace

Other definitions for pace (2 of 2)

Origin of pace

Words related to pace

How to use pace in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pace (1 of 3)

Word Origin for pace

British Dictionary definitions for pace (2 of 3)

Word Origin for pace

British Dictionary definitions for pace (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with pace