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
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
Steven Allen BruceExamples of a race against time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Werfel has been in a race against time to show how improvements to the agency can benefit taxpayers.
—Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Last year also happened to be the hottest year on record
Deploying clean energy really is a race against time.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024
The popular YouTube comedy duo Smosh accidentally alter a viral video, leading to a race against time to undo the damage and save their channel.
—Adam Wescott, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Milicevic’s case presented a unique challenge and a race against time.
—Melissa Karns, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
And, when the person becomes trapped, getting them out alive is a race against time and the engineering of a rapidly suffocating environment.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
Thuram was forced off late in the first half and it’s reported that the French striker is set to miss around 20 days, and is in a race against time to be fit for the second leg.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
The United States and the world are in a race against time to shift from greenhouse gas producing energy sources to carbon-free ones, which at this point means either nuclear plants, hydroelectric power, or solar and wind farms.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024
Now, as a new storm barrels toward eastern Canada, the community is in a race against time to save it.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024
Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Last year also happened to be the hottest year on record
Deploying clean energy really is a race against time.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024
The popular YouTube comedy duo Smosh accidentally alter a viral video, leading to a race against time to undo the damage and save their channel.
—Adam Wescott, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Milicevic’s case presented a unique challenge and a race against time.
—Melissa Karns, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
And, when the person becomes trapped, getting them out alive is a race against time and the engineering of a rapidly suffocating environment.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
Thuram was forced off late in the first half and it’s reported that the French striker is set to miss around 20 days, and is in a race against time to be fit for the second leg.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
The United States and the world are in a race against time to shift from greenhouse gas producing energy sources to carbon-free ones, which at this point means either nuclear plants, hydroelectric power, or solar and wind farms.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024
Now, as a new storm barrels toward eastern Canada, the community is in a race against time to save it.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a race against time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near a race against time
Cite this Entry
“A race against time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20race%20against%20time. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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