Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense paces, present participle pacing, past tense, past participle paced
1. singular noun
The pace of something is the speed at which it happens or is done.
Many people were not satisfied with the pace of change. [+ of]
...people who prefer to live at a slower pace.
They could not stand the pace or the workload.
Interest rates would come down as the recovery gathered pace.
2. singular noun
Your pace is the speed at which you walk.
He moved at a brisk pace down the rue St Antoine.
Their pace quickened as they approached their cars.
Synonyms: step, walk, stride, tread More Synonyms of pace
3. countable noun
A pace is the distance that you move when you take one step.
He'd only gone a few paces before he stopped again.
I took a pace backwards.
Synonyms: footstep, step, stride More Synonyms of pace
4. verb
If you pace a small area, you keep walking up and down it, because you are anxious or impatient.
As they waited, Kravis paced the room nervously. [VERB noun]
He found John pacing around the flat, unable to sleep. [VERB preposition/adverb]
She stared as he paced and yelled. [VERB]
5. verb
If you paceyourself when doing something, you do it at a steady rate.
It was a tough race and I had to pace myself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
6.
See to keep pace
7.
See to keep pace
8.
See at one's own pace
9.
See put sb/go through their paces
10. at a snail's pace
Phrasal verbs:
See pace out
More Synonyms of pace
pace in British English1
(peɪs)
noun
1.
a.
a single step in walking
b.
the distance covered by a step
2.
a measure of length equal to the average length of a stride, approximately 3 feet
See also Roman pace, geometric pace, military pace
3.
speed of movement, esp of walking or running
4.
rate or style of proceeding at some activity
to live at a fast pace
5.
manner or action of stepping, walking, etc; gait
6.
any of the manners in which a horse or other quadruped walks or runs, the three principal paces being the walk, trot, and canter (or gallop)
7.
a manner of moving, natural to the camel and sometimes developed in the horse, in which the two legs on the same side of the body are moved and put down at the same time
8. architecture
a step or small raised platform
9. keep pace with
10. put someone through his or her paces
11. set the pace
12. stand the pace
verb
13. (transitive)
to set or determine the pace for, as in a race
14. (often foll byabout, up and down, etc)
to walk with regular slow or fast paces, as in boredom, agitation, etc
to pace the room
15. (transitive; often foll byout)
to measure by paces
to pace out the distance
16. (intransitive)
to walk with slow regular strides
to pace along the street
17. (intransitive)
(of a horse) to move at the pace (the specially developed gait)
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin passūs step, from pandere to spread, unfold, extend (the legs as in walking)
pace in British English2
Latin (ˈpɑːkɛ, ˈpɑːtʃɛ, English ˈpeɪsɪ)
preposition
with due deference to: used to acknowledge politely someone who disagrees with the speaker or writer
Word origin
C19: from Latin, from pāx peace
PACE in British English
(peɪs)
noun acronym for(in England and Wales)
Police and Criminal Evidence Act
pace in American English1
(peɪs)
noun
1.
a step in walking, running, etc.; stride
2.
a unit of linear measure, equal to the length of a step or stride, variously estimated at from 30 inches to 40 inches: the regulation military pace is 30 inches, or 36 inches for double time: the Roman pace, measured from the heel of one foot to the heel of the same foot in the next stride, was 5 Roman ft, or 58.1 inches, now known as a geometric pace, about 5 ft
3.
a.
the rate of speed in walking, running, etc.
b. Sport
the speed of a ball, shuttlecock, etc.
4.
rate of movement, progress, development, etc.
5.
a particular way of walking, running, etc. (of a person or animal); gait; walk
6.
the gait of a horse in which both legs on the same side are raised together
verb transitiveWord forms: paced or ˈpacing
7.
to walk or stride back and forth across
8.
to measure by paces
often with off
9.
to train, develop, or guide the pace of (a horse)
10.
a.
to set the pace for (a runner, horse, etc.)
b.
to regulate the rate of progress, development, etc. of
11.
to go before and lead
12.
to cover (a certain distance)
verb intransitive
13.
to walk with slow or regular steps
14.
to raise both legs on the same side at the same time in moving
said of a horse
Idioms:
change of pace
go through one's paces
keep pace (with)
off the pace
put through one's paces
set the pace
Word origin
ME pas < OFr < L passus, a step, lit., a stretching out of the leg < pp. of pandere, to stretch out < IE base *pet-, to stretch out > fathom
pace in American English2
(ˈpeɪsi; ˈpɑtʃeɪ)
Latin
preposition
with all due respect to
used in expressing polite disagreement
Word origin
L, abl. of pax, peace
More idioms containing
pace
set the pace
someone can't stand the pace
at a snail's pace
COBUILD Collocations
pace
fast pace
frantic pace
furious pace
gentle pace
glacial pace
leisurely pace
steady pace
Examples of 'pace' in a sentence
pace
Will the slower pace of price rises allow more people to climb on to the ladder?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Rarely do you see a footballer with such a combination of pace and power.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There should be enough pace to help set this up for my fancy.
The Sun (2016)
The likely strong pace will be right up her street.
The Sun (2016)
This is not just about numbers but about culture and the pace of change.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He led until three out on his first run for over six months before keeping on at one pace.
The Sun (2016)
But all the pace bowlers struggled for length, allowing batsmen to cut, pull or drive at will.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They must be tempted to introduce younger blood, while England will be delighted if the pitch again helps the pace bowlers.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The pace of walking frees the mind and calms the body.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You can tell he has put his cast through its paces on this one.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And ministers are now determined to speed up the pace of change.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He got the run of the race but should be able to set his own pace again.
The Sun (2015)
His equestrian theatre puts four horses through their paces on stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then finish the walk at a slower pace.
Pantano, James A. (MD) Living with Angina (1991)
This appreciation has been spurred by the pace of the recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Others circle and pace the area where they last saw their owners.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The fast pace and camaraderie of the industry appealed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Nor should the pace attack be taken lightly.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This furlong shorter trip and likely stronger pace could be perfect.
The Sun (2009)
You have to pace your life for it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This will also ensure that your dog has ample space to pace around in.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
We have seen the sheer power and pace and the touch that he has.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Their style has been to set an early pace and see if they would last the distance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We should use this weekend to keep up the pressure and step up the pace.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Speed was almost down to walking pace.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
The change of pace is especially notable in economic activities.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They paced out the distance between the poles before heading back.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This does not mean that the pace bowler has spent the winter at home by choice.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then one of them would pace the room while the other made notes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
With so much early pace in the race he will have too much to do.
The Sun (2013)
With his arrival the pace of activity rose sharply.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
One can impose a more structured ending by moving backwards a pace or two and waiting until relatives seem to be ready to leave.
Pearson, Althea Growing Through Loss and Grief (1994)
Word lists with
pace
architectural features, Horse gaits
In other languages
pace
British English: pace /peɪs/ NOUN
speed The pace of something is the speed at which it happens or is done.
Many people were not satisfied with the pace of change.
American English: pace
Arabic: سُرْعَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: passo
Chinese: 步
Croatian: tempo
Czech: tempo rychlost
Danish: hastighed
Dutch: tempo stap
European Spanish: paso ritmo
Finnish: askel tahti
French: allure
German: Schritt
Greek: βήμα
Italian: ritmo
Japanese: 歩調
Korean: 보조
Norwegian: skritt
Polish: tempo
European Portuguese: ritmo
Romanian: ritm
Russian: частота
Latin American Spanish: paso ritmo
Swedish: tempo
Thai: จังหวะความเร็ว
Turkish: adım
Ukrainian: хід
Vietnamese: bước chân
British English: pace VERB
If you pace a small area, you keep walking up and down it, because you are anxious or impatient.
As they waited, he paced the room nervously.
He paced around the room.
American English: pace
Brazilian Portuguese: andar impacientemente
Chinese: 在…走来走去因焦虑或不耐烦
European Spanish: caminar de arriba a abajo
French: faire les cent pas dans
German: auf und ab gehen in
Italian: camminare su e giù per
Japanese: うろうろ歩き回る
Korean: >서성거리다초조하거나 화가나서
European Portuguese: andar impacientemente
Latin American Spanish: caminar de arriba a abajo
British English: pace NOUN
distance A pace is the distance that you move when you take one step.
He'd only gone a few paces before he stopped again.
American English: pace
Brazilian Portuguese: passo
Chinese: 步距
European Spanish: paso
French: pas
German: Schritt
Italian: passo
Japanese: 歩幅
Korean: 걸음
European Portuguese: passo
Latin American Spanish: paso
Chinese translation of 'pace'
pace
(peɪs)
n
(s) (= speed)
[of change, life etc]速度 (sùdù)
[of walker, runner]步速 (bùsù)
(c) (as measurement) 步 (bù)
vt
[room] (also pace around) 踱步于(於) (duóbù yú)
to set the pace (in race) 定步速 (dìng bùsù)
to keep pace with[person]与(與) ... 并(並)驾(駕)齐(齊)驱(驅) (yǔ ... bìng jià qí qū) [events]与(與) ... 同步 (yǔ ... tóngbù)
to do sth at one's own pace按自己的步调(調)做某事 (àn zìjǐ de bùdiào zuò mǒushì)
to take a pace forwards/backwards进(進)一步/退一步 (jìn yī bù/tuì yī bù)
to put sb through his/her paces考察某人的能力 (kǎochá mǒurén de nénglì)