a race against time

idiomatic phrase

variants or a race against the clock
: a situation in which something must happen or be done quickly because little time is available
Divers pulling the 12 boys and their soccer coach from the cave were in a race against time, with the threat of rains making an already difficult rescue even more urgent.Richard C. Paddock and Muktita Suhartono
… as everyone argued back and forth about whether to enter arbitration …, the issue of time came up. For some in the group, this was a race against the clock due to their illnesses and the need for medical treatment.Steven Allen Bruce

Examples of a race against time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Treatment to clear the blood of its grip is also a race against time. New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025 But for supporters of Lai, the campaign to free him is a race against time. Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025 Experience tells us that these things tend to go right down to the line, with players not yet registered when the new La Liga season starts (Barcelona kick off at Mallorca on August 16), and then a race against time for a solution before the transfer window ends on Monday, September 1. Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 22 July 2025 The search for a cure for these rare disorders is a race against time, because researchers think treatment will be most effective if administered when patients are children. Evan Bush, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for a race against time

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of a race against time was in 1814

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Cite this Entry

“A race against time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20race%20against%20time. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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