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.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The National Retail Federation, the nation's largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their pace will slow. —Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023

The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty. —Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023

With all seven men now going through their paces, BTS is expected to reconvene in 2025 when all have completed their duty to country. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023

As the year winds down, the rapid pace of AI innovation shows no signs of deceleration. —Reece Rogers, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023

Opioid overdose deaths recorded by D.C. so far this year are on pace to surpass last year’s record of 461. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023

Jenkins has also helped push Congress to think more seriously about the power grid, releasing a report last year that showed that much of the 43 percent emissions reduction expected by 2030 would be squandered if the United States doesn’t double the pace of transmission upgrades. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Nov. 2023

Stroud, the second overall pick in this year’s draft out of Ohio State, is on pace to pass for nearly 5,000 yards, which would smash the rookie record of 4,374 yards set by the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck in 2012. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023

Going through gears on the close-ratio shifter (from Honda/Acura's modification-specialty shop K-Tuned) perfectly set off the classic mood, even if our sheer pace on 17-Mile Drive absolutely baffled my mind. —Michael Teo Van Runkle, Ars Technica, 17 Nov. 2023

Verb

The event pic — which grossed $3 million in Tuesday previews — is pacing to open to at least $22 million for the five-day holiday corridor, including $16 million for the weekend. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023

More than 10 million people have already passed through TSA checkpoints since Thursday, pacing far ahead of even 2019's pre-pandemic numbers. —CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023

Engaging and fast paced, the book is based largely on an examination of secondary sources, because the official Soviet records from World War II have not been completely released. —Terry W. Hartle, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2023

Sam Altman paced the stage calm and confident, ready in black jeans and Lego x Adidas sneakers to sell himself as the next Steve Jobs — or at least this year’s Mark Zuckerberg. —Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023

Court officers paced the aisles ensuring the prohibition against photos and videos was being followed. —Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2023

Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, and Luka Doncic poured in 30 to pace Dallas’ potent offense. —Doyle Rader, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Hitler—then the leader of the nascent Nazi Party—paced inside the foyer, waiting for his big moment. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Nov. 2023

Crawford says from the aspect of teaching courses, the instructors take a lot of time in designing the courses and pacing out coursework appropriately for the students. —Sarah Cottrell, Parents, 7 Nov. 2023

See More

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

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

See More

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

See More

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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