race

noun

UK /reɪs/

Word Forms

singular	race
plural	races

1
countable a competition that decides who is the fastest at doing something, especially running
training for a big race
a close/difficult/tough race
win/lose a race:
Marlene needs to win the last race to retain her title.
Synonyms and related words
Races and racing
ahead
a poor second
baton
1. 1a
  a competition in which a person, organization, business, or country tries to win something or be the first to do something
  race for:
  There are three main candidates in the race for the presidency.
  a race to do something:
  We are losing the race to find a cure for AIDS.
  the race is on (=it has started):
  The race is on to save one of the country’s most endangered species.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for competitions
  arms race
  competition
  contest
2. 1b
  
  the races
  plural a series of horse races
  We always enjoy a day at the races.
  York Races
  Synonyms and related words
  Horse racing and other horse riding competitions
  accumulator
  Ascot
  betting shop
2
countable/uncountable a group of people who are similar because they have the same skin colour or other physical features
We do not discriminate on the basis of race or gender.
Synonyms and related words
General words for races and nationalities
Aryan
black
blackness
1. 2a
  a group of people who are similar because they speak the same language or have the same history or customs
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for races and nationalities
  Aryan
  black
  blackness
3
countable sciencea group of animals or plants that are similar to each other. A race of animals or plants is smaller than a species.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of living things
genus
species
subspecies
4
to be off to the races
to start being vigorously involved in an activity
Once you have enough vocabulary to start speaking a foreign language, you’re off to the races.
Submitted by:
Ruslan from Belarus on 11/04/2018
Open Dictionary - April2018
5
be at the races
to be competing with a chance of success
If that happens then we’re at the races.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 16/09/2019
Open Dictionary - September2019

phrases

a race against time

the human race

race

noun

US /reɪs/

Word Forms

singular	race
plural	races

1
countable a competition that decides who is the fastest at doing something, especially running
training for a big race
a close/difficult/tough race
win/lose a race:
Marlene needs to win the last race to keep the championship title.
Synonyms and related words
Races and racing
ahead
a poor second
baton
1. 1a
  a competition in which a person, organization, business, or country tries to win something or be the first to do something
  race for:
  There are three main candidates in the race for the presidency.
  a race to do something:
  We are losing the race to find a cure for AIDS.
  the race is on (=it has started):
  The race is on to save one of the country’s most endangered species.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for competitions
  arms race
  competition
  contest
2. 1b
  
  the races
  plural a series of horse races
  We always enjoy a day at the races.
  the Pimlico races
  Synonyms and related words
  Horse racing and other horse riding competitions
  accumulator
  double
  dressage
2
countable/uncountable a group of people who are similar because they have the same skin color or other physical features
We do not discriminate on the basis of race or gender.
Synonyms and related words
General words for races and nationalities
Aryan
black
dual heritage
1. 2a
  a group of people who are similar because they speak the same language or have the same history or customs
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for races and nationalities
  Aryan
  black
  dual heritage
3
countable sciencea group of animals or plants that are similar to each other. A race of animals or plants is smaller than a species.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of living things
genus
species
subspecies
4
to be off to the races
to start being vigorously involved in an activity
Once you have enough vocabulary to start speaking a foreign language, you’re off to the races.
Submitted by:
Ruslan from Belarus on 11/04/2018
Open Dictionary - April2018
5
be at the races
to be competing with a chance of success
If that happens then we’re at the races.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 16/09/2019
Open Dictionary - September2019

phrases

a race against time

the human race

race

verb

UK /reɪs/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	race
he/she/it	races
present participle	racing
past tense	raced
past participle	raced

1
intransitive/transitive to compete against other people or animals in a race
Only 11 of the original 18 horses will be racing.
I raced my brother down the street.
Synonyms and related words
To take part in a competition or game
play
race
meet
1. 1a
  transitive to use a car, boat, horse, or other animal for competing in a race
  He still finds the time to race bikes on the European circuit.
  Synonyms and related words
  To take part in a competition or game
  play
  race
  meet
2
intransitive to move very quickly
The economy seems to be racing towards another slump.
race to:
He raced to the bathroom when he heard Cheryl scream.
race through:
She tried to control the thoughts that were racing through her mind.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
1. 2a
  intransitive to work or move at a faster speed than usual
  She felt her heart begin to race madly.
  We could hear the engine racing.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move somewhere quickly
  fly
  hasten
  speed
2. 2b
  transitive to take someone somewhere quickly
  The children were raced to hospital.
  Synonyms and related words
  To go somewhere with someone or something
  come
  drive
  walk

race

verb

US /reɪs/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	race
he/she/it	races
present participle	racing
past tense	raced
past participle	raced

1
intransitive/transitive to compete against other people or animals in a race
We raced in a two-day drive from Las Vegas to Chicago.
I raced my brother down the street.
Synonyms and related words
To take part in a competition or game
play
race
meet
1. 1a
  transitive to use a car, boat, horse, or other animal for competing in a race
  He still finds the time to race his horses at county fairs.
  Synonyms and related words
  To take part in a competition or game
  play
  race
  meet
2
intransitive to move very quickly
The economy seems to be racing toward another depression.
race to:
The family raced to the basement when they heard Cheryl scream.
race through:
She tried to control the thoughts that were racing through her mind.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
1. 2a
  transitive to take someone somewhere quickly
  The children were raced to the hospital.
  Synonyms and related words
  To go somewhere with someone or something
  come
  drive
  walk
2. 2b
  intransitive to work or move at a faster speed than usual
  She felt her heart begin to race madly.
  We could hear the engine racing.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move somewhere quickly
  fly
  hasten
  speed

phrases

race against time

race ​‌‌‌

the races

to be off to the races

be at the races

race ​‌‌‌

the races

to be off to the races

be at the races

race ​‌‌

race ​‌‌

race

race

race

race