pace

I. pace¹ W3 /peɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: pas 'step', from Latin passus]
1. SPEED OF EVENTS/CHANGES [singular] the speed at which something happens or is done
pace of
The pace of change in our lives is becoming faster and faster.
at a steady/slow etc pace
Public spending continues to rise at a steady pace.
2. WALK/RUN [singular] the speed at which someone walks, runs, or moves
pace of
You need to step up the pace of your exercises.
at a slow/leisurely/brisk etc pace
Lucy set off at a leisurely pace back to the hotel.
He quickened his pace, longing to be home.
Traffic slowed to a walking pace.
3. STEP [countable] a single step when you are running or walking, or the distance you move in one step
pace backwards/towards/forwards etc
He took a pace towards the door.
Rebecca walked a few paces behind her mum.
4. keep pace (with something/somebody) to change or increase as fast as something else, or to move as fast as someone else:
Salaries have not always kept pace with inflation.
The supply of materials cannot keep pace with demand.
Slow down! I can’t keep pace with you.
5. go through your paces (also show your paces) to show how well you can do something
6. put somebody/something through their paces to make a person, vehicle, animal etc show how well they can do something:
The test driver puts all the cars through their paces.
7. set the pace
a) if a company sets the pace, it does something before its competitors or to a better standard
set the pace in
Japanese firms have been setting the pace in electronic engineering.
b) (also set a brisk/cracking etc pace British English) to go faster than the other competitors in a race, who then try to achieve the same speed:
The Italians set the pace for the first eight laps.
8. force the pace to make something happen or develop more quickly than it would do normally
force the pace on
measures designed to force the pace on alternative energy policies
9. be able to stand the pace to be able to deal with situations where you are very busy and have to think and act very quickly:
If you can stand the pace, working in advertising pays well.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pace
▪ rapid/fast The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty.
▪ slow The pace of life in the countryside is slower.
▪ a steady pace The economy was growing at a slow but steady pace.
▪ at your own pace (=at the pace that suits you) This allows each child to learn at his or her own pace.
▪ at a snail’s pace (=very slowly) Reform is proceeding at a snail’s pace.
▪ a breakneck pace (=extremely fast) Singapore prospered and modernized at a breakneck pace.
▪ a hectic/frantic pace (=a very fast and hurried speed) We worked at a hectic pace.
■ verbs
▪ the pace quickens/accelerates The pace of change is quickening.
▪ the pace slows/slackens After a surge in exports, the pace slackened considerably the following year.
▪ gather pace (=happen more quickly) Support for the campaign is gathering pace.
▪ keep up the pace (=continue to do something or happen as quickly as before) China's society is transforming but can it keep up the pace?
▪ keep up with the pace (=do something as fast as something else is happening or being done) It's essential that we constantly update our skills and keep up with the pace of change.
■ phrases
▪ the pace of change The pace of change accelerated dramatically in the early 1980s.
▪ the pace of life Here, the sun shines every day and the pace of life is slower.
▪ the pace of development The pace of development in computer graphics is amazing.
▪ the pace of reform Some senior party figures favor a slower pace of reform.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'in your own pace' or 'on your own pace'. Say at your own pace.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noun
1. singular, uncountable the speed at which sb/sth walks, runs or moves
• to set off at a steady/gentle/leisurely pace
• Congestion frequently reduces traffic to walking pace.
• The ball gathered pace as it rolled down the hill.

• The runners have noticeably quickened their pace.

2. singular, uncountable ~ (of sth) the speed at which sth happens
• It is difficult to keep up with the rapid pace of change.
• We encourage all students to work at their own pace (= as fast or as slow as they can).
• I prefer the relaxed pace of life in the country.

• Rumours of corruption and scandal gathered pace (= increased in number).

3. countable an act of stepping once when walking or running; the distance travelled when doing this
Syn: step
• She took two paces forward.
• To be a really good runner he needs to lengthen his pace a little.

• Competitors must stand at a distance of 20 paces from each other.

4. uncountable the fact of sth happening, changing, etc. quickly
• He gave up his job in advertising because he couldn't stand the pace.
• The novel lacks pace (= it develops too slowly).
• a pace bowler (= in cricket, a person who bowls the ball fast)
see also pacy
more at force the pace at force _v., at a snail's pace at snail
Word Origin:
Middle English Old French pas Latin passus ‘stretch (of the leg)’ pandere ‘to stretch’

Thesaurus:
pace noun
1. sing., U
• We set off at a leisurely pace.
speed • • rate • • momentum • |written tempo •
at a … pace/speed/rate
increase the pace/speed/rate/momentum/tempo
maintain the pace/speed/rate/momentum
2. C
• She took two paces forward.
step • • stride • • footstep •
take a few paces/steps/strides back/forward/to sth/towards sth
take a pace/step backwards
take a pace/step/stride
Example Bank:
• He's a skilful player with a good turn of pace.
• I set off at a snail's pace to conserve my energy for later in the race.
• I stopped a few paces from the edge of the cliff.
• I try to get away at weekends for a change of pace.
• She kept up a pace of ten miles an hour.
• Step back three paces.
• Take two paces forward.
• The pace of change means that equipment has to be constantly replaced.
• The pace of life is much slower on the islands.
• The project had a slow start, but is now gathering pace.
• The students work at their own pace.
• The younger children struggled to keep pace with the older ones.
• They set off at a blistering pace.
• Thinking that she was being followed, she quickened her pace.
• Two bodyguards remained a couple of paces behind the president throughout the walkabout.
• You shouldn't have such a job if you can't stand the pace.
• the slow pace of economic reform
• Competitors must stand at a distance of twenty paces from each other.
• He gave up his job in advertising because he couldn't stand the pace
• I prefer the more relaxed pace of life in the country.
• Jean followed a few paces behind.
• Rumours of corruption and scandal gathered pace.
• The novel lacks pace.
• Traffic was reduced to walking pace.
• We encourage all students to work at their own pace.
• You can get a device that counts how many paces you take in an average day.
Idioms: go through your paces ▪ keep pace ▪ off the pace ▪ put somebody through its paces ▪ set the pace ▪ show your paces

Derived: pace something off

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

pace / peɪs / noun (SPEED)

B2 [ U ] the speed at which someone or something moves, or with which something happens or changes:

a slow/fast pace

When she thought she heard someone following her, she quickened her pace.

Could you slow down a bit - I can't keep pace with (= walk or run as fast as) you.

For many years this company has set the pace (= has been the most successful company) in the communications industry.

These changes seem to me to be happening at too fast a pace.

I don't like the pace of modern life.

→ See also pacemaker (RUNNER)

force the pace

to make other people in a race go faster by going faster yourself

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

pace

[pe͟ɪs]
paces, pacing, paced
1) N-SING: usu with supp The pace of something is the speed at which it happens or is done.
  Many people were not satisfied with the pace of change.
  ...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.
  Syn:
  speed
2) N-SING: usu with supp 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.
3) N-COUNT: usu with supp 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.
4) VERB If you pace a small area, you keep walking up and down it, because you are anxious or impatient.
  [V n] As they waited, Kravis paced the room nervously...
  [V prep/adv] He found John pacing around the flat, unable to sleep...
  She stared as he paced and yelled.
5) VERB If you pace yourself when doing something, you do it at a steady rate.
  [V pron-refl] It was a tough race and I had to pace myself.
6) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR with n If something keeps pace with something else that is changing, it changes quickly in response to it.
  Farmers are angry because the rise fails to keep pace with inflation.
  ...a world changing far too fast for her to keep pace.
  Syn:
  keep up
7) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR with n If you keep pace with someone who is walking or running, you succeed in going as fast as them, so that you remain close to them.
  With four laps to go, he kept pace with the leaders...
  Daisy strode alongside her, breathing heavily but keeping pace.
  Syn:
  keep up
8) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something at your own pace, you do it at a speed that is comfortable for you.
  The computer will give students the opportunity to learn at their own pace...
  She was going too fast so I decided to keep riding at my own pace.
  Syn:
  at your own speed
9) PHRASE: V inflects If you put someone through their paces or make them go through their paces, you get them to show you how well they can do something.
  The eleven boxers are in the hands of the British coach, who is putting them through their paces...
  A group of the world's best waterskiers will be going through their paces.
10) at a snail's pace → see snail
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - pace out
  - pace off

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹pace /ˈpeɪs/ noun, pl pac·es
1 [singular]
a : the speed at which someone or something moves
• He can run at a decent pace. [=he can run fairly fast]
• We walked at a leisurely pace along the shore.
• I told the kids to pick/step up the pace. [=go faster]
• He rode his bike up the hill at a snail's pace. [=very slowly]
• We encourage you to hike the trail at your own pace. [=at a speed that suits you and lets you be comfortable]
b : the speed at which something happens
• The pace of the story was slow.
• His new album is selling at a blistering/breakneck/dizzying pace.
• Despite quickly advancing medical technology, the pace [=(more commonly) rate] of change in her field remained slow and steady.
• She liked the fast pace of life in the city. [=she liked the fast way things happened in the city]
- see also change of pace
2 [count] : a single step or the length of a single step - usually plural
• The tree is about 30 paces from the front door.
• The dog walked a few paces behind us.
go through your paces : to do something in order to show others how well you do it
• The athletes went through their paces as the coaches looked on.
• a show horse going through its paces for the judges
keep pace with : to go or make progress at the same speed as (someone or something else)
• Our production can't keep pace with [=keep up with] the orders coming in.
• The law has not kept pace with technology. [=the law has not changed fast enough to reflect changes in technology]
• She struggles to keep pace with her classmates.
off the pace US : behind in a race, competition, etc.
• The winner finished in 4 minutes, 30 seconds, and the next runner was three seconds off the pace. [=finished three seconds later]
• The other runners were way off the pace.
put someone or something through his/her/its paces : to test what someone or something can do
• We brought home three different computers and put them through their paces.
set the pace : to be the one that is at the front in a race and that controls how fast the other racers have to go
• As our fastest runner, he usually sets the pace for the rest of the team.
- often used figuratively
• The company's advanced equipment sets the pace for the recording industry.
- see also pacesetter