pace

1 of 3

noun

ˈpās 

1

a

: rate of movement

the runner's pace

especially : an established rate of locomotion

b

: rate of progress

specifically : parallel rate of growth or development

supplies kept pace with demand

c

: an example to be emulated

specifically : first place in a competition

three strokes off the pace

—Time

d(1)

: rate of performance or delivery : tempo

a steady pace

on pace to set a record

especially : speed

serves with great pace

a pace bowler in cricket

(2)

: rhythmic animation : fluency

writes with color, with zest, and with pace

—Amy Loveman

2

: a manner of walking : tread

… walked slowly, with even, unhesitating pace …

—Willa Cather

3

a

: step sense 2a(1)

b

: any of various units of distance based on the length of a human step

4

a

paces plural : an exhibition or test of skills or capacities

the trainer put the tiger through its paces

b

: gait

especially : a fast 2-beat gait (as of the horse) in which the legs move in lateral pairs and support the animal alternately on the right and left legs

pace

2 of 3

verb

paced; pacing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to walk with often slow or measured tread

b

: to move along : proceed

2

: to go at a pace

—used especially of a horse

transitive verb

1

a

: to measure by pacing

—often used with off

paced off a 10-yard penalty

b

: to cover at a walk

could hear him pacing the floor

2

: to cover (a course) by pacing

—used of a horse

3

a

: to set or regulate the pace of

taught them how to pace their solos for … impact

—Richard Goldstein

also : to establish a moderate or steady pace for (oneself)

b(1)

: to go before : precede

(2)

: to set an example for : lead

c

: to keep pace with

pace

3 of 3

preposition

pa·​ce ˈpā-(ˌ)sē 

ˈpä-(ˌ)chā,

-(ˌ)kā 

: contrary to the opinion of

—usually used as an expression of deference to someone's contrary opinion

Easiness is a virtue in grammar, pace old-fashioned grammarians …

—Philip Howard

—usually italics

Did you know?

Though used in English since the 19th century, the preposition pace has yet to shed its Latin mantle, and for that reason it's most at home in formal writing or in contexts in which one is playing at formality. The Latin word pace is a form of pax, meaning "peace" or "permission," and when used sincerely the word does indeed suggest a desire for both. This Latin borrowing is unrelated to the more common noun pace (as in "keeping pace") and its related verb ("pacing the room"); these also come from Latin, but from the word pandere, meaning "to spread."

Synonyms

Verb

• file
• march
• parade
• stride

Examples of pace in a Sentence

Noun

We walked at a leisurely pace along the shore.

The pace of the story was slow.

His new album is selling at a blistering pace.

Verb

When she gets nervous she paces back and forth.

He was pacing and muttering to himself.

She paced the other runners for the first half of the race.

Advertisements are paced so that they are shown more often during peak sales seasons.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Implementation of a plan to reconstruct at a steadily growing pace. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024

California’s business output grew at a 3.1 percent annual pace in the fourth quarter. —Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024

Growing Beyond Earth takes their endeavor to a larger scale, with more people studying more plants at a quicker pace. —Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024

Such a slow pace can be typical in Washington for a Friday, as staffers eye the exits for an early weekend. —Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024

While opponents of the Trump-era rules have praised the Biden administration for moving to reverse them, frustration at the government's pace has soured even supporters of the president's efforts. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

The movie was happening at this very accelerated pace. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

Walmart Health is growing its clinic business at a slower pace than competitors Walgreens VillageMC and Amazon’s One Medical. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

While all kids develop at different paces, when is a lag in developmental milestones a cause for concern? —Essence, 17 Apr. 2024

Verb

The pole-sitter is pacing the field, with Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski leading two lines behind him. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2024

While the Dubs won that night, paced by 10 straight Thompson points in the fourth quarter and 26 overall from Curry, the tone of the celebration felt off. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

Sales were paced by Taylor Swift who was responsible for 7% of all vinyl albums sold in the U.S. — or nearly 3.5 million in 2023, according to Billboard. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024

Many animals could be seen pacing up and down repetitively, an action linked to psychological distress, according to veterinary experts. —Reuters, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024

Armstrong, Broden and Jackson combined to score five touchdowns and pace the Red to a 38-12 win over the White team on a sunny, windy afternoon before a crowd of about 3,000 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 14 Apr. 2024

Griffith and Kwan find Eddie pacing on the ledge, holding his bright new coat. —Lincee Ray, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Samson Johnson has helped build that lead of late, stringing together two massive dunks to pace UConn’s offense. —NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

The cheetahs paced at the highest point of their grassy yard during the eclipse while a warthog waited at its back gate. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English pas, from Anglo-French, stride, step, from Latin passus, from pandere to spread — more at fathom

Preposition

Latin, ablative of pac-, pax peace, permission — more at pact

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Preposition

1863, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pace

• at a snail's pace
• at someone's own pace
• change of pace
• keep pace
• keep pace with
• off the pace
• pace car
• pace lap
• pace off
• pace of life
• pace oneself
• pick/step up the pace
• pick up the pace
• set the pace
• snail's pace

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Kids Definition

pace

1 of 2 noun

ˈpās 

1

a

: rate of moving especially on foot

b

: rate of progress

the pace of the story was slow

2

a

: a manner of going on foot : gait

b

: a fast gait of a horse in which legs on the same side move together

3

: a single step or a measure based on the length of a human step

pace

2 of 2 verb

paced; pacing

1

: to walk with slow steady steps

pacing to and fro

2

: to cover at a walk

pace the floor

3

: to measure by paces

pace off twenty feet

4

: to set or regulate the pace of

tried to pace himself during the marathon

pacer noun