pace
♦ pace /p'eɪs/ (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...
Interest rates would come down as the recovery gathered pace.
= 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...
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...
4 [VERB] V n, V prep/adv, V
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...
He found John pacing around the flat, unable to sleep...
She stared as he paced and yelled.
5 [VERB] V pron-refl
If you pace yourself when doing something, you do it at a steady rate.
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.
= 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...
= 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...
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 British coach is putting the boxers through their paces...
10
at a snail's pace: see snail
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...
Interest rates would come down as the recovery gathered pace.
= 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...
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...
4 [VERB] V n, V prep/adv, V
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...
He found John pacing around the flat, unable to sleep...
She stared as he paced and yelled.
5 [VERB] V pron-refl
If you pace yourself when doing something, you do it at a steady rate.
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.
= 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...
= 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...
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 British coach is putting the boxers through their paces...
10
at a snail's pace: see snail