pace
pace — noun
1. the rate at which a person walks or runs, a vehicle travels, or a process develo
the rate at which a person walks or runs, a vehicle travels, or a process develops over time
The construction work continued at a steady pace despite the rain.
collocation: steady pace
Faisal was amazed by the pace at which Yumi learned to read music.
structure: the pace at which + clause
The pace of technological change in the last twenty years has been extraordinary.
Olivia preferred to walk at her own pace rather than keep up with the guide.
collocation: at one's own pace
New staff members often struggle to maintain the pace set by the company's busiest departments.
- steady pace
- brisk pace
- slow pace
- own pace
- set the pace
- keep pace with
Grammar Patterns
at a [adj] pace
the pace of [sth]
Usage Note
Often occurs with 'at' in the structure 'at a [adjective] pace' or 'at the pace of [something]'. The expression 'at one's own pace' is a very common fixed phrase.
Common Mistakes
2. the manner or style of walking or running described in a phrase with 'at', such
the manner or style of walking or running described in a phrase with 'at', such as 'at a brisk pace' (walking quickly with energy) or 'at a slow pace' — this is not about measuring speed as a number, but about how someone moves in a particular way
The hikers set off at a brisk pace along the mountain trail.
collocation: brisk pace for walking
Gabriel slowed his pace when he reached the patch of ice on the path.
Ravindra's usual walking pace was much faster than his younger brother's.
The soldier maintained a steady pace even while carrying the heavy backpack.
collocation: steady pace (physical)
- brisk pace
- steady pace
- slow pace
- walking pace
- slacken one's pace
- quicken one's pace
Grammar Patterns
at a [adj] pace
3. the speed at which a process, change, or situation develops or moves forward, of
the speed at which a process, change, or situation develops or moves forward, often described with adjectives such as 'rapid', 'fast', or 'slow'
The housing market has grown at a remarkable pace over the last five years.
Ryo found it difficult to keep up with the pace of change in the advertising industry.
collocation: pace of change
The pace of the negotiations slowed as both sides refused to compromise on the main issues.
Sari enjoyed the relaxed pace of village life after years in a busy city office.
collocation: relaxed pace of life
- rapid pace
- fast pace
- slow pace
- pace of change
- pace of life
- keep pace with
- pace of growth
Grammar Patterns
at a [adj] pace
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 (AT A BRISK PACE): sense 2 is for physical walking or running, while this sense is for abstract processes and rates of change.
Common Mistakes
4. one single movement of your foot forward or backward when walking or running, or
one single movement of your foot forward or backward when walking or running, or the distance that this movement covers
Hana took two paces forward and stopped directly in front of the door.
collocation: take [number] paces
The distance between the two oak trees was roughly fifty paces across the field.
Faisal took a careful pace backward when he noticed the snake lying on the path.
The officer ordered the soldiers to take three paces to the left and stand at attention.
- take a pace
- paces forward/backward
- every pace
- a few paces
Usage Note
Can be used as a rough unit of measurement in informal contexts — one pace is approximately 75 centimetres or 30 inches, roughly equal to a natural step.
Common Mistakes
5. the act of running, cycling, or moving faster in a race or competition to force
the act of running, cycling, or moving faster in a race or competition to force other participants to increase their speed, or more generally, setting a standard that others try to match
Élise set a punishing pace from the start and left the other runners far behind.
collocation: set a punishing pace
The company's research laboratory sets the pace for innovation in the solar energy industry.
Tendai took the lead and set the pace for the first three laps of the race.
phrase: set the pace
Smaller businesses often follow industry trends rather than set the pace themselves.
- set the pace
- set a punishing pace
- set a blistering pace
- lead
simpler and broader; does not carry the specific competitive pressure that 'set the pace' implies
- front-runner
a noun describing the person or team in the lead
Grammar Patterns
set the pace
Usage Note
When used literally in sports, 'set the pace' means running at the front. When used figuratively, it refers to being a leader or trendsetter in any field.
6. in the sport of football (soccer), a player's or team's ability to run fast whil
in the sport of football (soccer), a player's or team's ability to run fast while keeping control of the ball
The winger's pace caused constant problems for the opposing defence throughout the match.
collocation: [player]'s pace
Folake used her pace to reach the through-ball before the goalkeeper could clear it.
The team lacked pace in midfield and struggled to create any real scoring chances.
Eitan's pace made him a dangerous threat whenever the team launched a counter-attack.
- lack pace
- use pace
- [player]'s pace
- pace and power
- speed
more general; 'pace' in football specifically implies combining speed with ball control
Usage Note
This sense is almost exclusively used in British football commentary and analysis. 'Pace' in this context specifically means running speed with the ball, not without it.
keep pace with
idiomto move, develop, or change at the same speed as something or someone else, so that you do not fall behind
Technology companies must constantly update their products to keep pace with consumer demand.
Yumi struggled to keep pace with the experienced runners during the first half of the marathon.
to test someone's abilities or skills by having them perform a series of tasks or exercises
The coach put the new players through their paces during the first training session of the season.
The interviewer put each candidate through their paces with a demanding coding challenge.
force the pace
idiomto make something happen or progress faster than it would naturally, often by applying pressure
The new CEO forced the pace of change by restructuring the company within just six months.
In the final kilometre of the race, the champion forced the pace and broke away from the pack.
pace — verb
1. to move back and forth across a space with steady, repeated foot movements, typi
to move back and forth across a space with steady, repeated foot movements, typically when you are nervous, anxious, waiting, or thinking hard
Gabriel paced up and down the hospital corridor while waiting for news of the operation.
pattern: pace up and down + location
The lawyer paced back and forth in the empty courtroom before the judge entered.
Ryo paced nervously outside the interview room, checking his phone every few seconds.
The family cat paced restlessly around the kitchen while waiting for its evening meal.
Dario could not sit still and paced the full length of the living room instead.
pattern: pace + noun phrase (space)
- pace up and down
- pace back and forth
- pace around
- pace nervously
- pace restlessly
- pace the floor
- pace the room
Grammar Patterns
pace + adverb of direction (up and down / back and forth / around)
Usage Note
Often used with direction adverbs or prepositional phrases such as 'up and down', 'back and forth', 'around', 'across the room', or 'the length of [a room]'. The action is repetitive — the walker returns to where they started.
Common Mistakes
2. to control or set the speed of a race, competition, or group activity, often by
to control or set the speed of a race, competition, or group activity, often by leading from the front or by deliberately matching a certain rhythm
An experienced marathon runner paced the group through the first fifteen kilometres of the race.
structure: pace + group + through
Noor was chosen to pace the beginner cyclists during their very first training ride.
The instructor paced the class carefully, making sure nobody fell behind the main group.
The leading runner paced the race at a steady tempo, saving energy for the final sprint.
collocation: pace + at a [adj] tempo
- pace the group
- pace the race
- pace someone through
- lead
simpler and more general; does not imply the deliberate speed-regulation that 'pace' does
- set the pace for
a phrasal expression with the same meaning, more common in figurative use
Grammar Patterns
pace + noun phrase (person/activity)
be paced by
Usage Note
Frequently used in sporting contexts where a more experienced person deliberately runs or cycles alongside a less experienced one to regulate their speed.
Common Mistakes
3. to control how fast you work, move, or use your energy over a long period, makin
to control how fast you work, move, or use your energy over a long period, making sure you have enough strength left to reach the end
Yumi knew she had to pace herself to survive the twelve-hour nursing shift.
structure: pace + oneself + if-clause
The students learned to pace their revision across the whole exam period.
Élise paced her breathing carefully during the final climb up the mountain.
In any long race, the key is learning to pace yourself from the start.
highlights: reflexive: pace yourself
- pace oneself
- pace one's breathing
- pace one's energy
- pace one's work
- regulate
more formal and less personal; does not carry the common self-care nuance of 'pace oneself'
Grammar Patterns
pace + oneself
pace + noun phrase (effort/resources)
Usage Note
The object is always either a reflexive pronoun ('pace yourself', 'pace myself', 'pace themselves') or a noun referring to something the subject controls ('pace one's breathing', 'pace one's work').
Common Mistakes
4. to measure the length or size of a space by walking across it and counting the n
to measure the length or size of a space by walking across it and counting the number of steps needed to cover it
Tendai paced the living room to check if the new sofa would fit against the wall.
structure: pace + noun phrase (space)
The farmer paced out the distance from the barn to the fence using long, even strides.
phrasal: pace out
Without a tape measure, Henrik paced the garden to estimate how many fence posts he needed.
Folake paced off the area where she planned to build the new vegetable beds.
phrasal: pace off
- pace the distance
- pace out
- pace off
- pace the length
- measure
the general term; 'pace' is specifically about measuring by walking
Grammar Patterns
pace + noun phrase (distance/area)
pace + out/off
Usage Note
Often used with the particle 'out' or 'off' ('pace out the distance', 'pace off the area'). This sense implies an approximate measurement, not a precise one.
Common Mistakes
5. of a horse, to move using a particular two-beat gait in which both legs on the s
of a horse, to move using a particular two-beat gait in which both legs on the same side move forward together, or more generally, to move in any specific style of footfall
The horse paced smoothly across the field, with both legs on the same side moving together.
The trainer spent weeks teaching the young horse to pace instead of trot during practice sessions.
Unlike a trot, a pace creates a gentle side-to-side rocking motion that riders enjoy.
distinction: pace vs trot
The experienced riding horse paced calmly around the arena with its owner on its back.
- pace across
- pace smoothly
- teach a horse to pace
pace out
phrasal verbto measure a distance by walking it and counting your steps, often to get a rough idea of its length
The gardener paced out the flower bed to check whether the new rose bushes would fit.
Ravindra paced out the space in the garage before ordering the new workbench.
pace off
phrasal verbto measure a distance or area by walking across it with regular steps, often for a rough estimation
The couple paced off the garden to decide where to place the new patio furniture.
Sari paced off the distance from the house to the gate to estimate how much gravel was needed.
pace — preposition
1. used before a person's name to politely indicate that you are stating a differen
used before a person's name to politely indicate that you are stating a different opinion from theirs, especially in formal or academic writing
Pace the committee chair, several members argued that the policy needed more careful review.
The professor presented new data that contradicted the earlier study — pace its lead author, Dr Wong.
structure: pace + [person], [statement]
Pace the official report, the eyewitness accounts describe a very different sequence of events.
Pace the previous editor, I believe the methodology in that paper has serious flaws.
- pace [name]
- pace the author
Grammar Patterns
pace + proper noun (person)
Usage Note
This is a Latin borrowing used almost exclusively in formal academic writing. It is always followed by a person's name or title. Think of it as a polite way of saying 'with respect to, I disagree with…'.
Word family
- pacernounC1
- pacedadjectiveB2
- pacingnounB2
- fast-pacedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Speed, pace, rate, tempo, and velocity all describe how fast something moves or happens, but each has a distinct range. Speed is the most general and neutral word — you use it for cars, runners, internet connections, or fans ('the speed of the wind'). Pace adds the idea of continuity or rhythm: you keep going at the same pace over time, whereas speed can be a single measurement. Rate often implies comparison or proportion ('birth rate', 'heart rate', 'interest rate') and is common in statistics. Tempo comes from music and is used for the rhythm of life, work, or scenes in a film ('the tempo of the city'). Velocity is a technical, scientific term meaning speed in a particular direction — learners rarely need it outside physics class. For example: 'The speed of the car was 80 km/h', but 'The team worked at a steady pace all afternoon' and 'The rate of inflation rose last quarter.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'pace' entered English through two different historical routes. The noun and verb meanings (step, speed, walking) come from Latin 'passus', meaning 'a step' or 'a stretch of the legs', which passed through Old French 'pas' into Middle English around the 13th century. The formal preposition meaning 'with due respect to' comes from a completely different Latin source: the ablative form of 'pax', meaning 'peace' — so 'pace [someone]' literally meant 'with peace to [that person]', used as a courteous way to disagree. English borrowed this directly from Latin in the 19th century for academic writing.