pace

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

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 of pace

• stride
• march

Examples of pace in a Sentence

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

Their aerial assault was paced by quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon in addition to offensive coordinator and future NFL head coach Todd Monken. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

In the end, regardless of powertrain choice, the Grand Highlander is not a sporty or fast-paced utility vehicle. —New Atlas, 6 June 2026

The main street leading to Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah was teeming, as everyone paced to get a spot for the sacred Jummah (Friday) prayer. —Mariam Amini, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Felipe Jikal paced Sunny Hills with an even-par 71. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

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

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

Rhymes for pace

• ace
• base
• brace
• case
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• mace
• place
• plaice

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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