the rat race
noun
: the unpleasant life of people who have jobs that require them to work very hard in order to compete with others for money, power, status, etc.
She is quitting the rat race to spend time with her family.
Examples of the rat race in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My worst day at Fig Tree still far exceeds my best days in commercial construction in the rat race.
—
Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The golden nugget that’ll take you and yours out of the rat race.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
In Riff Raff, Coolidge’s Ruth is the ex-wife of Vincent (Ed Harris), a former hitman who has found peace with a new wife, Sandy (Gabriel Union) and son, DJ (Miles J. Harvey) in a remote abode far away from the rat race.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Or is there value in those who can’t or won’t partake in the rat race, namely the average majority whose time alive may leave no indelible mark?
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
The Delinquents is a movie about how each man changes with the promise of a life away from the rat race, a life free of obligation and soul-crushing routine.
—Kevin Lincoln, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Instead of getting lost in the rat race, pull aside for a pit stop.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2024
Speaking of the rat race, our very own Jeffrey Van Camp, who edits the WIRED reviews section, is one of those people who's been trying to get a PS5.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 19 Feb. 2021
Taking time out from the rat race, allows your ideas to incubate.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
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Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The golden nugget that’ll take you and yours out of the rat race.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
In Riff Raff, Coolidge’s Ruth is the ex-wife of Vincent (Ed Harris), a former hitman who has found peace with a new wife, Sandy (Gabriel Union) and son, DJ (Miles J. Harvey) in a remote abode far away from the rat race.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Or is there value in those who can’t or won’t partake in the rat race, namely the average majority whose time alive may leave no indelible mark?
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
The Delinquents is a movie about how each man changes with the promise of a life away from the rat race, a life free of obligation and soul-crushing routine.
—Kevin Lincoln, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Instead of getting lost in the rat race, pull aside for a pit stop.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2024
Speaking of the rat race, our very own Jeffrey Van Camp, who edits the WIRED reviews section, is one of those people who's been trying to get a PS5.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 19 Feb. 2021
Taking time out from the rat race, allows your ideas to incubate.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“The rat race.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20rat%20race. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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